Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland
1998 No. 391

DISABLED PERSONS
The Disability Discrimination (Exemption for Small Employers) Order (Northern Ireland) 1998

Made
10th November 1998

Coming into operation
1st December 1998

Whereas, before making this Order, the Department of Economic Development (hereinafter referred to as “the Department”) conducted a review of the effect of section 7 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995(1):
And whereas the review was commenced on the 18th day of February 1998 and was completed on the 1st day of September 1998:
And whereas in conducting the review the Department consulted–
(a)such organisations representing the interests of employers as it considered appropriate; and
(b)such organisations representing the interests of disabled persons in employment or seeking employment as it considered appropriate:

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred on the Department by Section 7(2) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, the Department hereby makes the following Order:

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Disability Discrimination (Exemption for Small Employers) Order (Northern Ireland) 1998 and shall come into operation on 1st December 1998.

(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(2) shall apply to this Order as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Amendment of section 7

2.  Subsection (1) of section 7 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (which exempts an employer with fewer than 20 employees from the application of Part II of the Act) is amended by the substitution of the number “15” for the number “20”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Economic Development on

L.S.
D.S.S. McAuley
Assistant Secretary
10th November 1998.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order.)
Section 7(1) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 exempts employers with fewer than 20 employees from the application of Part II of that Act as it applies in Northern Ireland. This Order amends that subsection by lowering this threshold from 20 employees to 15.


(1)
1995 c. 50. Section 7 of that Act was modified in its application to Northern Ireland by Section 70(6) of and Schedule 8 to that Act

(2)
1954 c. 33 (N.I.)