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This is a public consultation by the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland (PPS) to seek your views on our equality and disability action plans for 2026-2029.
Draft PPS Equality Action Plan 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2029
Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (the Act) requires public authorities, in carrying out their functions relating to Northern Ireland, to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity and regard to the desirability of promoting good relations across a range of categories outlined in the Act.
The PPS is a designated public authority for the purposes of Section 75. It should be noted that the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 added the Director of Public Prosecutions to the list of persons to which Section 75 of the NI Act 1998 applies but in so doing excluded “any functions relating to the prosecution of offences”.
This action plan has been produced in accordance with the commitments set out in the PPS’s Equality Scheme.
The Action Plan can be accessed below.
Draft PPS Disability Action Plan 1 April 2026 - 31 March 2029
Under Section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995) (as amended by Article 5 of the Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006), the PPS is required when carrying out its functions to have due regard to the need to:
- Promote positive attitudes towards people with disabilities; and
- Encourage participation by people with disabilities in public life (‘the disability duties’).
It should be noted that matters relating to the prosecution of offences are excluded by virtue of Section 49A(2)(a) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995) (as amended by Article 5 of the Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006).
Under Section 49B of the DDA 1995, the PPS is also required to submit a Disability Action Plan (DAP) to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland showing how it proposes to fulfil these duties in relation to our functions.
This draft plan sets out how we will work to achieve these goals. The plan makes a clear statement of our commitment to effectively fulfilling these disability duties.
The document can be accessed below.
Both Action Plans will be updated and amended during their lifetime, as and when required.
Why We Are Consulting
The PPS would welcome comments from any interested individuals or groups regarding the scope and content of these documents.
You are invited to submit your views using a short questionnaire (6 questions in total) which can be accessed by visiting the Northern Ireland Civil Service ‘Citizen Space’ page.
Please submit your views by Wednesday 19 August 2026.