Armstrong meets with Equality Commission to discuss concerns of Mid-Ulster Unionist Community
Ulster Unionist Assembly Member Billy Armstrong welcomed Paul Callaghan of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland to Mid-Ulster yesterday to discuss our concerns regarding equality in various aspects of life as unionists living in rural Mid-Ulster.
This was an opportunity to examine some of the issues and dispel the propaganda put out by Sinn Fein that there is employment discrimination against the Catholic community. Evidence points to the Protestant community losing out in the jobs market particularly in some Public Sector agencies in Northern Ireland that have consistently returned levels of Protestants significantly less than in the available workforce
Billy said, “In welcoming Paul Callaghan from the Equality Commission to our constituency I very much appreciated the opportunity to bring to him the views of unionists in Mid-Ulster. There is a perception that those who shout the longest are being listened too by Government at the expense of the vast majority of law abiding Protestant people. The Nationalist culture, language and sports are promoted and funded but Protestants feel alienated that they do not have the same level of support. Uproar from Sinn Fein when the Orange Order received a £100,000 grant but GAA have received vast sums from Sports Council but still permitted to hold a political event in Casement Park commemorating the Hunger Strike without any penalties.
“It is evident that there is a great feeling of alienation and intimidation by Protestants right across Mid-Ulster. The ongoing attacks on Orange Halls and other Protestant establishments and the displays of hunger strike memorials and excessive use of controversial flags, which have been erected throughout many towns and villages, have created greater division and tensions in communities.
“Furthermore Protestants feel that they are not being treated fairly in many ways in their everyday lives. Too often it is portrayed that Protestants are gaining more at the expense of Roman Catholics. But this meeting gave us the chance to discuss these matters and to refute that perception. Previous attempts to tackle deprivation had not always had the same impact in many Protestant areas that they had lost out to nationalists in improvement programmes. As part of the United Kingdom, the signs and symbols of Britishness must have a protected and treasured status in the public life of Northern Ireland.
“In all this was a very useful meeting with the Equality Commission and my unionist colleagues, which included Councillors Jacky Crawford, George Shiels and prominent unionists feel that the Equality Commission should be better informed of the inequalities felt west of the Bann.”