[F128 Conciliation of disputes.U.K.
[F2(1)The Commission may make arrangements with any other person for the provision of conciliation services by, or by persons appointed by, that person in relation to disputes arising under this Part.
(2)In deciding what arrangements (if any) to make, the Commission shall have regard to the desirability of securing, so far as reasonably practicable, that conciliation services are available for all disputes arising under this Part which the parties may wish to refer to conciliation.
(3)No member or employee of the Commission may provide conciliation services in relation to disputes arising under this Part.
(4)The Commission shall ensure that any arrangements under this section include appropriate safeguards to prevent the disclosure to members or employees of the Commission of information obtained by a person in connection with the provision of conciliation services in pursuance of the arrangements.
(5)Subsection (4) does not apply to information relating to a dispute which is disclosed with the consent of the parties to that dispute.
(6)Subsection (4) does not apply to information which—
(a)is not identifiable with a particular dispute or a particular person; and
(b)is reasonably required by the Commission for the purpose of monitoring the operation of the arrangements concerned.
(7)Anything communicated to a person while providing conciliation services in pursuance of any arrangements under this section is not admissible in evidence in any proceedings except with the consent of the person who communicated it to that person.
(8)In this section—
“the Commission” means the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland; and
“conciliation services” means advice and assistance provided by a conciliator to the parties to a dispute with a view to promoting its settlement otherwise than through the courts.]]
Extent Information
E1Following the repeal of this Act for E.W.S. by the Equality Act 2010, this section now extends to N.I. only. Prior to that repeal, different versions of this section had been created for N.I. and E.W.S. respectively to reflect the different amendment history for each jurisdiction. This version is based on the N.I. version as it stood at the date of the repeal. It does not reflect the history of E.W.S. effects prior to the 2010 repeal, which can be found in earlier versions.
Textual Amendments
F1S. 28 substituted (N.I.) (25.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/1110 (N.I. 2), art. 12 (with art. 17); S.R. 2000/140, art. 2, Sch.
F2Act repealed (E.W.S.) (1.10.2010 (except for the repeal of ss. 49A-49D) and 5.4.2011 in so far as not already in force) by Equality Act 2010 (c. 15), 216(3), Sch. 27 Pt. 1 (as substituted (1.10.2010) by S.I. 2010/2279, Sch. 2) (with ss. 6(4), 205, and with amendments and savings in the said S.I. 2010/2279, art. 16); S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(15)(f) (with arts. 4-25, Schs. 1-16); S.I. 2011/1066, art. 2(h)
Commencement Information
I1S. 28 wholly in force at 30.5.1996; s. 28 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 70(3); s. 28 in force (E.W.S.) at 17.5.1996 by S.I. 1996/1336, art. 3(e); s. 28 in force (N.I.) at 30.5.1996 by S.I. 1996/219, art. 3(e)