§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will seek to harmonise the treatment of ethnic minorities in race relations legislation in all jurisdictions of the United Kingdom; and, in particular, whether they will ensure the travelling people who cross from Northern Ireland into the mainland of Britain are treated the same on both sides of the Irish Sea. [HL2755]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)The Race Relations Act 1976 prohibits racial discrimination in the areas of employment, training and related matters, education, the provision of goods, facilities and services and in the disposal and management of premises in Great Britain. 165WA The Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 follows the lines of the Race Relations Act.
Irish travellers are specifically described as a racial group in Article 5 of the Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 and receive protection from racial discrimination under the order. While the Race Relations Act 1976 does not include specific reference to Irish travellers, Irish people in general on the mainland are protected by the Act if they are discriminated against on the grounds of their nationality or ethnicity.