Nesbitt meets Equality Commission
Dermot Nesbitt, Ulster Unionist Party Equality spokesperson, has met Bob Collins the Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission. This follows a meeting already this week that Mr Nesbitt had with the Human Rights Commission.
Both meetings are ahead of the now scheduled debate next week in the Assembly on Equality and Human rights issues.
Dermot Nesbitt said: “I met Bob Collins to press upon him the urgent need to address important concerns about equality such as recruitment procedures to the public sector. The Equality Commission has a clear responsibility to inform the public on these matters and in particular as to whether or not there is equality of opportunity. Having sat through the Assembly’s Preparation for Government Committee on Equality issues, it is clear that Unionists and Nationalists have different perspectives on equality and this requires to be addressed and clarified.”
Mr Nesbitt continued: “I was assured at a meeting with Government in February that it would examine, with the Equality Commission, the issue of recruitment to the public sector. Yet after today’s meeting with Bob Collins I saw no evidence of delivery by Government on its commitment to examine this issue. This non-implementation is appalling - yet another broken promise by Government. It is long past time for Minister Hanson to ensure that his officials deliver on Government commitments.”
Dermot Nesbitt concluded: “The Equality Commission, like the Human Rights Commission, has a duty not to unionism but to all who live in Northern Ireland. I await with interest the outcome of my discussion with Bob Collins and I do hope he will address the concerns that we discussed. All in Northern Ireland would benefit from some clear and simple statements by the Equality Commission on the important matter as to whether or not there is fairness in employment.”