UUP challenge on Employment Record
The Ulster Unionist Party tabled a 30-page document at today’s Preparation for Government Committee on Equality issues. It related primarily as to whether or not there is fairness in the employment market.
Dermot Nesbitt said after the meeting that “this was an opportunity to examine some of the issues. Too often we have been told by Sinn Fein that there is employer discrimination against the Catholic community and that Catholics are more likely to be unemployed.”
He continued: “We put forward the evidence that I believe refutes the Sinn Fein argument. Indeed the evidence points to the Protestant community losing out in the jobs market. I offered to meet with any of the parties to discuss further these issues. Unionism has nothing to hide from and should be confident of its arguments.”
Dermot Nesbitt concluded: “The Committee agreed that all interested parties, including Government, should be fully committed to addressing the issues of equality. I readily agreed, but only on the basis of clear evidence and not on emotional arguments that too often feature in the debate. My question to Government is simple- when is it going to show commitment to address the concerns of the community and present clear and simple information to the public. To date all that I have received from Government is silence or waffle. I meet yet again Minister Hanson in 10 days to consider what Government should do.”