(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006 No. 261) (“the Age Regulations”) which implement the Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27th November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p.16).
These Regulations postpone until 1st December 2006 the date on which certain provisions of the Age Regulations shall come into operation. These provisions are: regulation 7 (applicants and employees) and regulation 25 (relationships which have come to an end) (but only in so far as they relate to the payment of contributions to a pension scheme, admission to a pension scheme and arrangements which relate to the provision of benefits from a pension scheme), regulation 12 (pension schemes) and Schedule 1 (pension schemes). Consequential amendments have also been made to the Age Regulations to reflect this. An amendment has also been made to regulation 51 of the Age Regulations to correct a drafting error.
A Regulatory Impact Assessment of the effect that these Regulations will have on business costs was included in the Regulatory Impact Assessment that accompanied the Age Regulations. Copies have been placed in the Library of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Copies may be obtained from Equality, Rights and Social Need Division, Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, Room E3.18, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3SR.