To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 5 March (WA 173) concerning relationships on the island of Ireland, whether the Belfast agreement places the same importance on equality in the Republic of Ireland as in Northern Ireland. [HL2015]

The Belfast agreement relates primarily to Northern Ireland and its relationships with the other constituent parts of the United Kingdom and on the island of Ireland—the so called “East-West” and “North-South” relationships referred to in the chapters of the agreement entitled Strands 3 and 2 respectively.

As made clear in the Declaration of Support at the beginning of the agreement, both the United Kingdom and Irish Governments are committed to equality—as well as partnership and mutual respect—as the basis of relationships within Northern Ireland, between north and south, and between these islands. The agreement also set out, in the chapter entitled “Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity”, a number of steps that would be taken by the Irish Government including the introduction of equal status legislation, the implementation of enhanced employment equality legislation and the continuation of steps to demonstrate respect for the different traditions in the island of Ireland.