Section 23: Agreements
83.Section 23 makes provision for the CEHR to enter into an agreement with a person who it has reason to believe has committed an unlawful act, as defined in section 34. Agreements are enforceable through the courts. The CEHR is able to enter into an agreement where the other party undertakes not to commit a specified unlawful act, and to take or refrain from taking specified action. In return, the CEHR undertakes not to proceed under section 20 or 21 with an investigation or the issue of an unlawful act notice in respect of the act specified in the agreement.
84.Under subsection (4) an agreement may contain supplementary matters, such as action that may be taken in the event of a breakdown of the agreement or the circumstances in which either party may terminate the agreement. It also allows the parties to consensually vary or terminate the agreement.
85.Subsection (5) provides that the CEHR can enter into an agreement with a public authority in respect of a breach of any of the public sector duties set out in section 34(2) in lieu of issuing a public sector duty compliance notice, as provided for in section 32.