Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Disability Discrimination (Questions and Replies) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 and shall come into operation on 31st December 2007.

(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(3) applies to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

(3) In this Order—

“the 1995 Act” means the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and

“court” means a county court.

Forms for questions and replies

2.  The forms set out in Schedules 1 and 2 to this Order are prescribed for the purposes of section 56 of the Act for cases falling within Part III of the Act (discrimination in other areas), other than section 21A (employment services)(4) and sections 19 to 21 (discrimination in relation to services and duty to make adjustments) in so far as sections 19 to 21 relate to a group insurance arrangement(5), as forms—

(a) by which the person aggrieved may question the respondent on his reasons for doing any relevant act, or on any other matter which is or may be relevant; and

(b) by which the respondent may if he so wishes reply to any questions,

and articles 3 and 4 of this Order shall apply to such cases.

Period for service of questions

3.  In proceedings before a court, a question shall, for the purposes of section 56(3) of the Act, only be admissible as evidence in any proceedings under Part III of the Act, other than section 21A (employment services) and sections 19 to 21 in so far as sections 19 to 21 relate to a group insurance arrangement—

(a) where proceedings have not commenced—

(i) if it was served within the period of six months beginning on the date of the act complained of; or

(ii) where the dispute has been referred by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland for conciliation in pursuance of arrangements under section 28(6) of the Act, if it was served within the period of eight months beginning on the date of the act complained of;

(b) where proceedings have commenced, only if it is served with leave of the court and within the period specified by it.

Manner of service of questions and replies

4.  A question or, as the case may be, a reply may be duly served—

(a) where the person to be served is the respondent, by delivering the question to him, or by sending it by post to him at his usual or last known residence or place of business; or

(b) where the person to be served is the person aggrieved, by delivering the reply to him, or sending it by post to him at his address for reply as stated by him in the document containing the questions or, if no address is so stated, at his usual or last known residence; or

(c) where the person to be served is a body corporate or is a trade union or employers’ association within the meaning of the Industrial Relations (N.I.) Order 1992(7), by delivering it to the secretary or clerk of the body, union or association at its registered or principal office or by sending it by post to the secretary or clerk at that office; or

(d) where the person to be served is acting by a solicitor, by delivering it at, or by sending it by post to, the solicitor’s address for service.

Amendment of the Disability Discrimination (Questions and Replies) Order (Northern Ireland) 2004

5.—(1) The Disability Discrimination (Questions and Replies) Order (Northern Ireland) 2004(8) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 3—

(a) after “the purposes of section 56 of the Act” insert “(for cases falling within Part II of the Act (the employment field and members of district councils) and, in relation to Part III of the Act (discrimination in other areas), for cases falling within section 21A (employment services) and sections 19 to 21 of the Act (discrimination in relation to services and duty to make adjustments) in so far as sections 19 to 21 relate to a group insurance arrangement)”;

(b) in paragraph (a), for “complainant” substitute “person aggrieved”.

(3) In article 4, for paragraph (a) substitute the following paragraph—

“(a) where it was served before a complaint had been presented to a tribunal, if it was so served—

(i) within the period of three months beginning when the act complained of was done; or

(ii) where the period under paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to the Act within which proceedings must be brought is extended by regulation 15 of the Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004(9), within that extended period; or”.

(4) In article 5(b), for “complainant” substitute “person aggrieved”.

(5) In Schedule 1—

(a) for “complainant” (in each place) substitute “person aggrieved”;

(b) in paragraph 1—

(i) for “the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (“the Act”) by” substitute “Part II of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (“the Act”) or Part III of that Act so far as it relates to employment services or a group insurance arrangement by”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (a)(i), after “against me”, insert “(not applicable in a group insurance case)”;

(iii) after “harassment contrary to the Act” insert “(not applicable in a group insurance case)”;

(c) in the Notes—

(i) for paragraph (1) substitute the following paragraph—

“(1) Under section 56(3) of the Act (as substituted by the Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006), this questionnaire and any reply are admissible in evidence in industrial tribunal proceedings brought under Part II of the Act or under section 21A (employment services) and sections 19 to 21 (discrimination in relation to services and duty to make adjustments) in so far as sections 19 to 21 relate to a group insurance arrangement, of Part III of the Act.”.

(ii) in paragraph (2), for “a failure,” substitute “a deliberate failure,” and for “Part III if the case concerns employment services” substitute “the provisions of Part III mentioned in paragraph (1).”.

(6) In Schedule 2—

(a) for “(name of complainant)” substitute “(name of person aggrieved)”;

(b) in paragraph 3 for “(Include any reasons which in your view explain or justify your treatment of the complainant or explain any failure on your part to comply with a duty to make a reasonable adjustment).” substitute “(Include any reasons which in your view explain or justify your treatment of the person aggrieved or which explain, or in a group insurance case justify, any failure on your part to comply with a duty to make a reasonable adjustment).”.