The Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997

Meaning of “racial grounds”“racial group” etc.

5.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), in this Order—

“racial grounds” means any of the following grounds, namely colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins;

“racial group” means a group of persons defined by reference to colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins, and references to a person’s racial group refer to any racial group into which he falls.

(2) In this Order “racial grounds”—

(a) includes the grounds of belonging to the Irish Traveller community, that is to say the community of people commonly so called who are identified (both by themselves and by others) as people with a shared history, culture and traditions including, historically, a nomadic way of life on the island of Ireland; and

(b) does not include the grounds of religious belief or political opinion.

(3) In this Order “racial group”—

(a) includes the Irish Traveller community;

(b) does not include a group of persons defined by reference to religious belief or political opinion.

(4) The fact that a racial group comprises two or more distinct racial groups does not prevent it from constituting a particular racial group for the purposes of this Order.

(5) In this Article references to religious belief or political opinion shall be construed in accordance with section 57(2) and (3) of the [1976 c. 25] Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976.