The Equality Commission has published its 15th Fair Employment Monitoring Report – part 1 here and part 2 here [pdf files], a summary is also available[pdf again] – and they have stated that, “The imbalances in employment recorded in the early 1990s have, in effect, disappeared. The composition of the workforce is now Protestant: [57.7%] and Roman Catholic: [42.3%].” [the Non-Determined are, of course, not counted] Good news? Not according to both Sinn Féin and the DUP.. as this Press Association report reveals.From the Foreword to the report –
The imbalances in employment recorded in the early 1990s have, in effect, disappeared. The composition of the workforce is now Protestant: [57.7%] and Roman Catholic: [42.3%]. Given that the proportion of those available for work is around [57.3%] and [42.7%], the current composition is close to what might be expected.
From the PA report –
Sinn Fein Assembly member Catriona Ruane said while there was disadvantage in both the Protestant and Catholic communities, these problems had to be dealt with on the basis of need.
“The fact remains that across every single indicator of disadvantage and multiple disadvantage that Catholics fair far worse,”
“Sinn Fein`s greatest concern is that this is part of a wider agenda driven by the civil service and unionist politicians to rewrite history and, just as seriously, to default on existing equality commitments.”
while
The DUP`s Gregory Campbell said the commission was much too slow in coming forward with pro-active measures to combat the under-representation of Protestants, particularly in the public sector.
“It is totally unacceptable that this report mentions the issue they spent so many years denying the existence thereof, and when they do refer to the problem, they attempt to rationalise it rather than dealing with it.
“They must bring forward solutions for those public sector bodies where they have categorical proof of the scale of the problem affecting Protestant under-representation.”
Plus ca change..