This autumn’s Equality Commission reshuffle must take on board unionist concerns, Northern Ireland’s First Minister said today.
Peter Robinson called on the Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward to address the perception that the commission was biased against unionists.
Mr Woodward has to fill four commissioner posts in September and the DUP leader said it was outrageous a mere 34 per cent of staff came from the Protestant community.
“If we look at the commission I cannot identify a single person who would share the views of the tens of thousands of people who vote for the main unionist party in Northern Ireland,” he said. “This is despite the Secretary of State having a statutory obligation to ensure the commission is representative of the Northern Ireland community.”
A spokesman for the commission said it was established to promote equality of opportunity and eliminate discrimination for everybody in Northern Ireland.
An independent survey whose results were published last month showed that the majority of people across all traditions have trust and confidence in the commission.
The group said it was doing everything the law allows to increase successful applications from Protestants.
That includes offering free, independent training on a religion-specific basis, exclusively for Protestants. This the first time that such a step has been taken by any employer in Northern Ireland.
“Like all employers, the commission is bound to make appointments only on merit. It cannot take into account anyone’s religious or political affiliations when offering a job or providing a service. That is as it should be and as the law requires.”
PA