§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why it was necessary to add Article 15(1) to European Union Council Directive 2000/78/Ec of 27 November 2000, establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation. [HL959]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville)Article 15(1) of the directive allows for the exceptional measures for recruitment to the police force in Northern Ireland, as recommended in the report of the Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland (the Patten report) and provided for in the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000.