Anti-discrimination law in N Ireland - a brief chronology 

Northern Ireland has a comprehensive framework of equality and anti-discrimination law which dates back to 1970 when equal pay legislation was first introduced. 

1970 - the principle of equal pay between women and men established by the Equal Pay Act.

1976 - sex discrimination law introduced in Northern Ireland and the former Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland established.

1976 - fair employment legislation, designed to address discrimination in employment on grounds of religion, introduced and the former Fair Employment Agency (later the Fair Employment Commission) established.  In 1998, the legislation was extended to cover discrimination in other areas including the provision of goods, facilities and services, and further and higher education.

1997 - race relations law introduced in Northern Ireland (comparable law came into force in Britain 21 years earlier) and the former Commission for Racial Equality Northern Ireland established.

October 1999 - Equality Commission established under the Northern Ireland Act 1998.  It took over all the powers and functions of the three predecessor Commissions and the Northern Ireland Disability Council.  Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act introduced new duties on public authorities to promote equality of opportunity and good relations on a range of grounds. 

April 2000 - new responsibilities, powers and functions for the Equality Commission in relation to disability discrimination.

December 2003 - legislation outlawing discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in employment and vocational training introduced to meet the requirements of the European Framework Employment Directive.  This Directive also led to significant changes to the existing employment provisions of race, sex and religious discrimination law in Northern Ireland.

October 2004 - significant changes to employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act, including removal of small employer exemption.  New access duties introduced for service providers.

September 2005 - Disability Discrimination Act extended to education through the Special Educational Needs and Disability Order (SENDO).  SENDO subsequently amended in Spetember 2006 in relation to further and higher education.

October 2006 - Employment Equality (Age) Regulations introduced - the final step in implementing the Employment Framework Directive.

January 2007 - New disability duties on public authorities came into force on 1 January 2007 under the Disability Discrimination (NI) Order (DDO) 2006.  These require public authorities to develop disability action plans which set out how they will promote positive attitudes towards disabled people and encourage the participation of disabled people in public life.

January 2007 -  The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2006 make it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services, education and public functions.  

October 2007 - Further provisions of the DDO 2006 came into force.  From 31 October 2007, people who are diagnosed with  cancer, MS, and HIV are protected from disability discrimination from the point of diagnosis.  People with mental ill health no longer have to prove that their condition is "clinically well recognised" to qualify as a disabled person.