The Disability Discrimination (Private Clubs, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

PART I INTRODUCTORY

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Disability Discrimination (Private Clubs etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and shall come into operation on the day after these Regulations are made.

Interpretation

2.—(1) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(1) applies to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

(2) In these Regulations—

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

“building” means an erection or structure of any kind.

PART II LESS FAVOURABLE TREATMENT: JUSTIFICATION

Circumstances in which mental incapacity justification does not apply

3.  The condition specified in section 21G(3)(b) of the 1995 Act shall not apply where another person is acting for a disabled person by virtue of—

(a) an enduring power of attorney; or

(b) functions conferred by or under Part VIII of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986(2).

Circumstances in which less favourable treatment is justified: guarantees

4.—(1) Where, for a reason which relates to the disabled person’s disability, an association treats a disabled person less favourably than it treats or would treat others to whom that reason does not or would not apply, that treatment shall be taken to be justified for the purposes of section 21G(1) of the 1995 Act in the circumstances specified in paragraph (2).

(2) The circumstances referred to in paragraph (1) are that—

(a) the association provides a guarantee (whether or not legally binding) that—

(i) the purchase price of benefits, facilities or services that it has provided will be refunded if the benefits, facilities or services are not of satisfactory quality, or

(ii) benefits or services in the form of goods that it has provided will be replaced or repaired if those goods are not of satisfactory quality; and

(b) the association refuses to provide a replacement, repair or refund under the guarantee because damage has occurred for a reason which relates to the disabled person’s disability, and the damage is above the level at which the association would normally provide a replacement, repair or refund under the guarantee; and

(c) it is reasonable in all the circumstances for the association to refuse to provide a replacement, repair or refund under the guarantee.

(3) In this regulation “guarantee” includes any document having the effect referred to in paragraph (2)(a) whether or not that document is described as a guarantee by the association.

Circumstances in which less favourable treatment is justified: deposits

5.—(1) Where, for a reason which relates to the disabled person’s disability, an association treats a disabled person less favourably than it treats or would treat others to whom that reason does not or would not apply, that treatment shall be taken to be justified for the purposes of section 21G(1) of the 1995 Act in the circumstances specified in paragraph (2).

(2) The circumstances referred to in paragraph (1) are that—

(a) when benefits or services (in either case in the form of goods) or facilities are provided, the disabled person is required to provide a deposit which is refundable if such goods or facilities are undamaged; and

(b) the association refuses to refund some or all of the deposit because damage has occurred to such goods or facilities for a reason which relates to the disabled person’s disability, and the damage is above the level at which the association would normally refund some or all of the deposit; and

(c) it is reasonable in all the circumstances for the association to refuse to refund some or all of the deposit.

PART III REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS

Members, associates and guests: benefits, facilities or services

6.—(1) Where an association has a practice, policy or procedure which makes or would make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled persons who are members, associates or guests to make use of a benefit, facility or service which it provides, or is prepared to provide, to other members, associates or guests as the case may be, it is the duty of the association to take such steps as it is reasonable in all the circumstances to take in order to change that practice, policy or procedure so that it no longer has that effect.

(2) Where a physical feature makes or would make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled persons who are members, associates or guests to make use of such a benefit, facility or service, it is the duty of the association providing that benefit, facility or service to take such steps as it is reasonable in all the circumstances to take in order to—

(a) remove the feature;

(b) alter it so that it no longer has that effect;

(c) provide a reasonable means of avoiding the feature; or

(d) provide a reasonable alternative method of making the benefit, facility or service in question available to disabled persons who are members, associates or guests.

(3) Where an auxiliary aid or service (for example, the provision of information on audio tape or of a sign language interpreter) would—

(a) enable disabled persons who are members, associates or guests to make use of a benefit, facility or service which an association provides, or is prepared to provide, to other members, associates or guests as the case may be; or

(b) facilitate the use by disabled persons who are members, associates or guests of such a benefit, facility or service;

it is the duty of the association providing that benefit, facility or service to take such steps as it is reasonable in all the circumstances to take in order to provide that auxiliary aid or service.

(4) It is unlawful for an association to discriminate against a disabled person who is a member, associate or guest by failing to comply with a duty imposed on it by this regulation in circumstances in which the effect of that failure is to make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for the disabled person who is a member, associate or guest to make use of any benefit, facility or service which it provides, or is prepared to provide, to other members, associates or guests as the case may be.

Members and associates: membership

7.—(1) Where an association has a practice, policy or procedure which makes or would make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled persons who are members or associates, in comparison with members or associates who are not disabled, to retain their membership or rights as an associate, or to avoid having their membership or rights as an associate varied, it is the duty of the association to take such steps as it is reasonable in all the circumstances to take in order to change that practice, policy or procedure so that it no longer has that effect.

(2) Where an auxiliary aid or service would—

(a) enable disabled persons who are members or associates to retain their membership or rights as an associate, or to avoid having their membership or rights as an associate varied; or

(b) facilitate the retention by disabled persons who are members or associates of their membership or rights as an associate, or facilitate such disabled persons avoiding having their membership or rights as an associate varied,

it is the duty of the association to take such steps as it is reasonable in all the circumstances to take in order to provide that auxiliary aid or service.

(3) It is unlawful for an association to discriminate against a disabled person who is a member or associate by failing to comply with a duty imposed on it by this regulation in circumstances in which the effect of that failure is to make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for the disabled person who is a member or associate, in comparison with members or associates who are not disabled, to retain their membership or rights as an associate, or to avoid having their membership or rights as an associate varied.

Persons who might wish to become members

8.—(1) Where an association has a practice, policy or procedure which makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled persons, in comparison with persons who are not disabled, to be admitted as members of the association, it is the duty of the association to take such steps as it is reasonable in all the circumstances to take in order to change that practice, policy or procedure so that it no longer has that effect.

(2) Where an auxiliary aid or service would—

(a) enable disabled persons to be admitted as members of the association; or

(b) facilitate disabled persons being admitted as members,

it is the duty of the association to take such steps as it is reasonable in all the circumstances to take in order to provide that auxiliary aid or service.

(3) It is unlawful for an association to discriminate against a disabled person by failing to comply with a duty imposed on it by this regulation in circumstances in which the effect of that failure is to make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for the disabled person, in comparison with persons who are not disabled, to be admitted as a member of the association.

Persons who are likely to become guests

9.—(1) Where an association has a practice, policy or procedure which makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled persons, in comparison with persons who are not disabled, to be invited as guests of the association, it is the duty of the association to take such steps as it is reasonable in all the circumstances to take in order to change that practice, policy or procedure so that it no longer has that effect.

(2) Where an auxiliary aid or service would—

(a) enable disabled persons to be invited as guests of the association; or

(b) facilitate disabled persons being invited as guests,

it is the duty of the association to take such steps as it is reasonable in all the circumstances to take in order to provide that auxiliary aid or service.

(3) It is unlawful for an association to discriminate against a disabled person by failing to comply with a duty imposed on it by this regulation in circumstances in which the effect of that failure is to make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for the disabled person, in comparison with persons who are not disabled, to be invited as a guest of the association.

Duty of associations to make adjustments relating to physical features

10.  The duty at regulation 6(2) to take steps for a purpose relating to a physical feature applies, for example, to the following physical features (whether permanent or temporary)—

(a) any feature arising from the design or construction of a building on the premises occupied by the association;

(b) any feature on the premises occupied by the association of any approach to, exit from or access to such a building;

(c) any fixtures, fittings, furnishings, furniture, equipment or materials in or on the premises occupied by the association;

(d) any fixtures, fittings, furnishings, furniture, equipment or materials brought by or on behalf of the association on to premises (other than the premises that they occupy)—

(i) in the course of providing benefits, facilities or services,

(ii) for the purpose of providing such benefits, facilities or services;

(e) any other physical element or quality of any land comprised in the premises occupied by the association.

Reasonableness where consent of third party necessary for an adjustment to physical features of premises

11.—(1) This regulation prescribes particular circumstances, for the purposes of regulation 6(2), in which it is reasonable, and in which it is not reasonable, for an association to have to take the steps specified in this regulation.

(2) Where—

(a) under any binding obligation an association is required to obtain the consent of any person to an alteration to premises which it occupies; and

(b) that alteration is one which, but for that requirement, it would be reasonable for the association to have to make in order to comply with a duty under regulation 6(2),

it is reasonable for the association to have to request that consent; but it is not reasonable for it to have to make that alteration before that consent is obtained.

(3) In this regulation “binding obligation” means a legally binding obligation (not contained in a lease) in relation to premises whether arising from an agreement or otherwise.

Reasonableness and design standards

12.—(1) This regulation prescribes particular circumstances, for the purposes of regulation 6(2), in which it is not reasonable for an association to have to take the steps specified in this regulation.

(2) It is not reasonable for an association to have to remove or alter a physical feature where the feature concerned—

(a) was provided in or in connection with a building for the purpose of assisting people to have access to the building or to use facilities provided in the building; and

(b) satisfies the relevant design standard.

(3) Whether a physical feature satisfies the relevant design standard shall be determined in accordance with the Schedule.

Duty of associations to make adjustments: justification

13.—(1) For the purposes of section 21G(6) of the 1995 Act, failure to comply with a duty set out in any of regulations 6 to 9 is justified only if—

(a) in the opinion of the association, one or both of the conditions mentioned in paragraph (2) are satisfied; and

(b) it is reasonable, in all the circumstances, for it to hold that opinion.

(2) The conditions are that—

(a) the non-compliance with the duty is necessary in order not to endanger the health or safety of any person (which may include that of the disabled person);

(b) subject to paragraph (3), the disabled person is incapable of entering into an enforceable agreement, or of giving an informed consent, and for that reason the non-compliance with the duty is reasonable in that case.

(3) The condition at paragraph (2)(b) shall not apply where another person is acting for a disabled person by virtue of—

(a) an enduring power of attorney; or

(b) functions conferred by or under Part VIII of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

Duty of associations to make adjustments: limitations

14.  The duties set out in this Part of these Regulations do not require—

(a) an association to take any steps which would fundamentally alter the nature of the benefits, facilities or services in question or the nature of the association;

(b) a member or associate of an association which meets in that member’s or associate’s private house to make any adjustments to a physical feature in relation to that member’s or associate’s private house.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on 4th March 2008.

Gerard Mulligan

A senior officer of the

Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister