Former paramilitary prisoners could be offered greater protection from discrimination under Northern Ireland's single Equality Bill, it emerged today.
The British government today asked interest groups, in a 196-page consultation paper, whether there should be specific protections for former republican, and loyalist prisoners from discrimination and inequality.
The document, launched by Northern Ireland Office minister Mr John Spellar at Stormont, also asked whether victims of the Troubles, pregnant women and mothers, Irish language, Ulster Scots and non-English speakers should also be specifically identified in the Bill.
It is envisaged that the Equality Bill, which was the brainchild of Stormont ministers during devolution and harmonises all equality legislation, will tackle inequality in the jobs market, workplace and in the delivery of goods and services.
Ex-prisoners have often complained that the requirement to declare past convictions in job applications has resulted in discrimination against them.
Today's document suggested the concerns of victims and survivors of the Troubles could be specifically addressed in the Bill following the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's recommendation that they be included in the non-discrimination clause of its draft Bill of Rights.
The government has already decided that discrimination against people on the basis of disability, race, religion, age, political opinion, marriage, gender, sex change, sexual orientation and disability will be covered in the new Bill. Consultation will last until November 12th.
PA