asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the meaning of parity of esteem and equality as used in the 1998 Belfast agreement. [HL2791]

Her Majesty's Government define the phrase “parity of esteem” with reference to its meaning in the Belfast agreement to signify equal respect for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities in Northern Ireland. The term “equality” appears in a number of parts of the Belfast agreement and therefore must be interpreted within those contexts accordingly.