One way to present our voice to Government is by responding to consultations. Since 1998 the Government must consult for 8- 12 weeks on policy changes before they can be implemented. This can be a useful way to put forward your ideas or to register opposition to Government proposals.
On this page you will find our responses to recent consultations including:
- Bill of Rights Forum
- Charities Bill
- Building a Better Future: Draft Programme for Government 2008 - 2011
- Draft Guidance on Termination of Pregnancy in Northern Ireland
- Consultation on Betting & Gaming Law in Northern Ireland
- Getting Equal = proposals to outlaw discrimination on ground of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services
- Adopting the Future
- Northern Ireland Suicide Prevention Strategy
- New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs 2006 - 2011
- Reforming Liquor Licensing Legislation in Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
- Review of Public Administration
Bill of Rights Forum
Progress towards a Bill of Rights reflecting the 'particular circumstances of Northern Ireland' was given fresh impetus through the St Andrews Agreement in 2006 which included a Bill of Rights Forum as one of its components.
The Forum is made up of representatives from political parties and civic society and is chaired by Chris Sidoti, an Australian Human Rights lawyer and former Australian Human Rights Commissioner. The Forum’s remit is to present a series of recommendations to the NIHRC on a future Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
The Forum is due to publish its draft recommendations in January and there will be a period of consultation before the process is finalised on 31 March 2008. Evangelical Alliance will continue to monitor the progress of the Forum and its draft recommendations in the coming weeks.
Briefing Paper on Bill of Rights Forum
Submission to Bill of Rights Forum: February 2008
Review of Charities Administration & Legislation
In 2005 the Department for Social Development launched a review of Charities Administration and Legislation in Northern Ireland. We responded to the initial review and our response can be found below.
Evidence to Social Development Committee February 2008
Briefing Paper: Charities Bill Northern Ireland February 2008
Response to Review of Charities Administration & Legislation 2005
On 10 December 2007 the Charities Bill was laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Social Development Committee are now scrutinising the Bill clause by clause and Evangelical Alliance NI has submitted both written and oral evidence to the Committee.
Some of the key issues arising from the Bill include:
- the creation of a Northern Ireland Charity Commission
- all charities must register with the Charity Commission
- to register all charities must meet a public benefit test
- all registered charities must submit accounts and reports as required to the Charities Commission
- for certain religious charities special designation may be available
A briefing paper has been prepared highlighting these and other key points within the legislation.
Building a Better Future: Draft Programme for Government 2008 - 2011 In October 2007 the Executive launched plans for a Programme for Government, Budget and Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland covering the period 2008 - 2011. Consultation lasted until the beginning of January 2008.
Response to Building a Better Future: Draft Programme for Government 2008 - 2011
Draft Guidance on Termination of Pregnancy in Northern Ireland
Following a Judicial Review instigated by the Family Planning Association the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has developed draft guidance on termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland. A consultation on the draft guidance closed on Friday 20 April 2007.
Response to draft guidance on termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland
Consultation on Betting & Gaming Law in Northern Ireland
The Department for Social Development has been consulting on proposals to relax restrictions on Sunday opening for betting offices and bingo halls. Read our response below.
Response to consultation on betting & gaming law
Consultation on Draft Primary Legislation: Proposal for an Order in Council: The Charities (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. Last year the Department for Social Development undertook a Review of Charities Administration and Legislation in Northern Ireland. You can see our response below. In July the Department launched the latest stage in the process of revamping Charities' Law here. You can access the consultation through www.dsdni.gov.uk. Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland will be responding to the consultation and in particular those areas relating to churches and faith based organisations.
This consultation closed on Friday 13 October.
Reforming the Law on Sexual Offences in Northern Ireland: A consultative document
This consultation represents the first fundamental review and proposed reform of the law on sexual offences in Northern Ireland. The proposals include plans to lower the age of consent for all sexual activity to under age 16 for boys and girls (currently under age 17). To access the document go to http://www.nio.gov.uk/index/public-consultation/documents.htm.
Download our consultation response here.
The consultation closes on Friday 13 October.
**Getting Equal = Proposals to outlaw discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services in Northern Ireland** At the end of July the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister launched this consultation which will inform the introduction of regulations in November which will outlaw sexual orientation discrimination by goods and services providers in both the public and private sectors. You can find a copy of the consultation document at www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/gettingequal.pdf.
For more information download our briefing paper(pdf).
On 7 September Evangelical Alliance hosted a briefing and discussion session for church leaders in relation to this consultation. You download the notes from that meeting here. We have also met with politicians and representatives from the Department to highlight our concerns. A copy of our response can be found here.
The regulations are now available on the Office of Public Sector Information website http://www.opsi.gov.uk/sr/sr200604.htm.
Exceptions are included for religious organisations and these are in relation to compliance with the doctrine of an organisation or to avoid conflicting with the strongly held religious convictions of a significant number of the religions followers.
Please click here for a summary of the regulations.
Adopting our Future
At the beginning of July the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) launched its consultation on the review of adoption in Northern Ireland. Among the proposals are plans to introduce 'special guardianship' which is one step away from full adoption; make it easier for step-parents to adopt; allow couples in a civil partnership to adopt.
The consultation paper is available online on the Department's website at http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/adopting_the_future_16-6-06pdf.pdf.
Download our response to the adoption consultation here.
Northern Ireland Suicide Prevention Strategy
Any loss of life is tragic and bereavement can be a traumatic time for friends and family of those who have died. This is especially true in the case of suicide which brings with it unique and often harrowing circumstances both for the individual concerned and for those relatives and friends left behind.
The Government has responded to the concern about the increase in the number of suicides by establishing a multi-sector taskforce in July 2005 to develop a Suicide Prevention Strategy for Northern Ireland. A consultation has been completed on this strategy and our response can be found by following the link below.
If you have any comments on this or any of our other responses please let us know.
Response to Consultation on the Northern Ireland Suicide Prevention Strategy
A New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs 2006 - 2011
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) has been seeking views on its plans to reduce to reduce the level of alcohol and drug-related harm in Northern Ireland. Aims of the new strategy include:
- Providing accessible and effective treatment and support
- Tackling the culture of 'binge drinking'
- Increasing awareness on all aspects of alcohol and drug related harm
- Integrating policies which contribute to the reduction of alcohol and drug-related harm in to all Government Department strategies
- Addressing under-age drinking
- Reducing the availability of illicit drugs in Northern Ireland
Response to the New Strategic Direction for Alcohol & Drugs 2006 - 2011
Liquor Licensing - the way forward: Government proposals to reform liquor licensing law in Northern Ireland
The Department for Social Development recently published a consultation detailing proposals for amendments to the liquor licensing legislation in Northern Ireland. The proposals include:
- Option to extend opening hours to 2am Monday - Saturday and to midnight on Sunday
- District Councils to approve licence applications (currently approved through the courts)
- Stronger enforcement powers for the PSNI
- Allowing children and young people to stay in licensed premises beyond 9pm for family events.
In early January Evangelical Alliance, in conjunction with the Irish Temperance League, held an information morning to highlight the Government's plans and their potential implications. The consultation ended on 31 January 2006 and you can find a copy of our response here.Check out the DSD website on www.dsdni.gov.ukfor other responses.
Human Rights
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission recently consulted on its strategic plan 2006 - 2009.
Response to NIHRC Strategic Plan 2006 - 2009
Review of Public Administration
Towards the end of 2005, the Government launched its final proposals in its Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland. Since the creation of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998 politicians have been considering ways to reform local government and the administration of education and health services here. Towards the end of 2005 the Government launched its final proposals in its Review of Public Administration (RPA). These included:
- Reducing the number of district councils from 26 to 7
- Replacing the five Education & Library Boards with one regional body
- Current 18 Health Trusts reduced to 5
To find out the full details go to www.rpani.gov.uk.
To see the response from Evangelical Alliance click on the link below.
Response to Review of Public Administration September 2005
