Publication Scheme and Information Guide 

A. Introduction

B. How do I get information?

C. Your right to information

D. Making a complaint

E. Further information about your rights

F. Classes of information

A. Introduction

What is a publication scheme?

This publication scheme is a guide to the information routinely published by the Equality Commission. It is not a list of the actual publications, since this will change as other things are published, but rather it is a description of the classes or types of information that is routinely available from the Commission. The classes of information are described in Section F. below.

Much of the information is already provided on the Commission´s website or can be provided by simply asking for it - either by phone, email, letter or in person. Information about the Commission and its work, as well as a full list of publications currently available, may be obtained from our website or requested from our Promotion and Education Division.

Guidance on the information routinely available to the public, where it can be obtained and how much it costs is described below and in the Information Guide which accompanies this scheme. Much of this information is also on our website or can be made readily available on request.

In cases where the Commission cannot provide the information we will direct you to where it can be obtained or advise you of the process by which you can make a more formal request or raise a complaint.

Back to top

B. How do I get information?

The Commission provides a wide range of information across all areas of its remit. This information is increasingly being placed on our website at www.equalityni.org.  Where information is not on the website or is not accessible to you via the website, the Commission will arrange for you to have the material sent to you or for you to visit the Commission´s offices, if that is easier.

In most cases the Commission will provide immediate access to the information through its website or via email. In those cases where the information is being sent out to you by post, this will be undertaken within 5 working days of receipt of your request.

Should you seek a visit to our offices, or should this be required due to the nature of the information, you will be contacted within 5 working days to arrange a mutually convenient appointment.

The Commission can also make information available in a range of alternative formats, for example, large print, tape, braille, etc. Information is usually provided in the language in which it is held. Some of our key publications are also available in languages other than English.

Information held by the Commission, which is not provided under this Scheme, can be requested in writing and its provision will be considered in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, within 20 working days of the request.

How much will the information cost?

The Commission´s aim is to make as much information as possible, freely available and readily accessible. Most Commission publications are free unless otherwise stated and can normally be downloaded from the website. The Commission also aims to provide additional information routinely on its website or via email.

There may be a charge for photocopying, postage, and packing of hard copies, particularly where large volumes of material are involved. Where this is the case, costs will be kept to a minimum and you will be advised in advance of the material being sent. Payment will be requested in advance of the material being provided.

Anyone seeking information not on the website or more information about what it contains should get in touch with the Commission´s Comunication & Promotion team as a first port of call. The Division´s information team can be contacted at:

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Equality House
7-9 Shaftesbury Square
Belfast
BT2 7DP

Tel: 02890 500 600 (for all information and advice enquiries) Textphone: 02890 500 589
Fax: 02890 248 687

Or simply email our information team at information@equalityni.org.

The Stationery Office

Further information of interest to you may be published by The Stationery Office (TSO) and may be viewed free of charge on the HMSO website (www.hmso.gov.uk). Printed copies are available to order (upon payment of the applicable price) from the Stationery Office´s website (www.tso.co.uk/bookshop), and TSO shops in major towns and cities across the UK.

TSO publications relevant to the Commission´s legislative remit include:

• Equal Pay Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 (as amended)
• Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (as amended)
• Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended)
• Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (as amended)
• Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (as amended)
• Northern Ireland Act 1998
• Equality (Disability etc) (Northern Ireland) Order 2000
• Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003
• Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (as amended)
• Disability Discrimination (NI) Order 2006
• Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006
• Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (as amended)
• Statutory Instruments and regulations under the above legislation.

Feedback

We have published this scheme to fulfil our obligations under Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and also ensure that you, the public, are more aware of the type of information which is available from the Commission.

The purpose of the Act is to promote greater openness by public authorities. It is important therefore that the scheme meets your needs. Our aim is therefore to make the information easy for you to find and use. We welcome suggestions for additional information that you feel should be included or how we can make the information easier to obtain. We would also welcome suggestions as to how the publications themselves could be improved.

Any questions, comments, suggestions or complaints about this scheme should be sent in writing to the Commission´s Freedom of Information and Data Protection Co-ordinator.

For more information about this scheme contact:

Eoin O Neill
Freedom of Information and Data Protection Co-ordinator
Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Equality House
7-9 Shaftesbury Square
Belfast BT2 7DP
Tel: 02890 890859
Textphone: 02890 500 589
Fax: 02890 329227
Email: eoneill@equalityni.org

Back to top

C. Your right to information

In most cases you will be able to obtain the information you seek simply by consulting the Commission´s website or contacting our information team (see section B above).

In the event that you do need to seek to obtain information from us under the Freedom of Information Act, here is what you should do:

Making a request

• Make your request in writing or email
• The request should contain:
  • details about the specific information you are seeking
  • details about who you are and how you can be contacted. In the event of complex requests or potentially sensitive information a telephone number at which you can be contacted would be helpful.
  • how you would like to receive the information, eg, as a copy, summary or by physically inspecting the record. Please identify any accessibility requirements you may have and if you need to receive the information in an alternative format, eg, large print, tape, Braille, etc.
• Make your request to our Freedom of Information and Data Protection Co-ordinator eoneill@equalityni.org or at the address given below.

Our response

The Commission will respond to your request promptly and, in any event, within 20 working days.

Back to top

D. Making a complaint

Overall responsibility for the operation of the Commission´s policies and procedures with regard to the provision of information under Freedom of Information, Data Protection and access to Government legislation is held by the Commission´s Head of Corporate Services, Keith Brown.

If you have a complaint about the Commission´s information policies or the operation of this Publication Scheme, please write to or email:

Keith Brown
Head of Corporate Services
Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Equality House
7-9 Shaftesbury Square
Belfast BT2 7DP

Telephone 02890 500 600
Textphone: 02890 500 589
Fax: 02890 331 544

Email: kbrown@equalityni.org

Back to top

E. Further information about your rights

Further information about Freedom of Information and Data Protection can be obtained from:

Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Information Line: 01625 545745
Website: www.ico.gov.uk

Back to top

F. Classes of information

Classifications

This section of the publication scheme lists the classes of information that the Commission produces both internally and externally. The classification is based on the guidance contained in the Information Commissioners model publication scheme for Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs).

The information we outline includes material which has been conventionally published in hard copy, material that is available on the website or, on request, in paper copy, and information which we use internally, for example, employment policies and information used for corporate governance.

The Commission has an ongoing programme to place much of the information on its website and much of it already is. Any of the information, whether on the website or not, can be made readily available to the public. Further guidance is given in our Information Guide.

Our information has been classified under the following headings.  Please click on one for further details or use the menu at the top left.

Who we are and what we do

What we spend and how we spend it

What are the Commission´s priorities and how are we doing

How the Commission makes decisions

Policies and procedures

Lists and registers

The services we offer

Back to top