DRD in Northern Ireland Headed By Sinn Fein Discriminate Against a Protestant

woodoo wrote: »

What so out of 5 protestants and a catholic going for a job. It just couldn't be possible that the catholic was the most suitable.

If Mr Murphy genuinely believed Mr Hogan was the right person for the job what is the problem.

It seems the catholic gentlemen was the least qualified person but happened to be a mate of conners

Department of Regional Development discriminated against candidate

The Department of Regional Development has lost a religious discrimination case at an industrial tribunal.

It found evidence by Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy "implausible and lacking credibility".

The case was brought by Alan Lennon, a Protestant overlooked for the post of chairman of NI Water.

Deciding Mr Lennon was discriminated against, the tribunal believe Mr Murphy - minister at the time - also broke the code of practice for appointments.

In March 2011, Mr Murphy appointed a Catholic as chairman, Sean Hogan, ahead of four others shortlisted after interview, all of them Protestants.

According to the tribunal, Mr Hogan was selected because "he was not from a Protestant background and because he was known to the minister and his (then Sinn Fein) ministerial colleagues", Michelle Gildernew and Caitriona Ruane, who were consulted about the appointment.

The BBC has seen the 26-page decision issued to those involved.

It concluded: "The tribunal is in considerable doubt as to whether the merit principle was adhered to by the minister and whether Mr Hogan was the best candidate."

It also said Mr Murphy had added new criteria to the selection process "in order to secure Mr Hogan's appointment", something it viewed as a breach of the code and procedures for appointments.

The tribunal disputed Mr Murphy's claim he was unaware of the religion of the candidates.

'Material bias'
"In the reality of the political and religious environment in Northern Ireland, the tribunal finds the minister's evidence is implausible and lacks credibility."

The tribunal also said that during Mr Murphy's time as DRD minister - between 2007-2011, there was "a material bias against the appointment of candidates from a Protestant background".

The findings added: "The tribunal is concerned that Dr (Malcolm) McKibbin as permanent secretary with DRD and currently head of the NI Civil Service was not more aware of the situation."

The tribunal rejected Mr Lennon's claim there was also political discrimination, saying there was "a paucity of evidence".

Mr Lennon's case was assisted by the Equality Commission.

Its chief executive Evelyn Collins said: "We supported this case because it is our view that the standards of fairness and non-discrimination that we expect in employment situations should apply equally to all public appointments.

"A key part of this is the requirement for a sufficient degree of transparency and accountability in the process to assure people that selection is based on merit and that, if unlawful discrimination occurs, it can be challenged."

The DRD said in a short statement it would take time to consider the ruling.

In a statement Mr Murphy said: "I absolutely refute any allegation of discrimination against Alan Lennon on religious grounds.

"I stand over all of the appointments I made as the regional development minister and adhered to all the set criteria for such appointments.

"The department have six weeks to decide whether to appeal this ruling. Having read the ruling myself I would be urging the department to utilise the appeals process."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18526303

It seems sinn fein believes rules don't apply to them in other ways as well, recent newspaper report says they are fiddling the books in Westminster by claiming expenses and not attending. Some of you might say FairPlay for screwing the British exchequer but if you read the full articule it seems they are screwing the Irish exchequer to


Sinn Fein under fire over Westminster expense claims

Sinn Fein is milking Westminster to claim £460,000 a year for its constituency offices in Northern Ireland — despite none of its MPs taking their seats.

And its TDs are breaking parliamentary rules in the Republic by paying activists out of cash claimed for travel expenses.

Sinn Fein said people voted for its abstentionist MPs and that it used the money to provide “first-class constituency services”.

Recently, the party announced four MPs who are also MLAs would stand down from the Assembly to concentrate on Westminster.

The move could prove lucrative. Sinn Fein would have lost more than £700,000 in future expenses had they not ordered its five MPs to quit Stormont.

A redrafting of expenses by the Report of the Independent Financial Review Panel will progressively reduce the £73,583 in office expenses MLAs now receive.

If an Assembly member was also an MP they were entitled to just half the office expenses a non double-jobbing MLA received.

But the amount of Office Cost Expenditure (OCE) payable to MLAs who are also MPs is limited to £27,594 per annum this financial year, £17,844 for 2013/14 and £8,655 for 2014/15, an Assembly spokesperson said.

When the four Sinn Fein MPs quitting the Assembly are replaced and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness steps down as an MP, the party will benefit from full OCE allowances.

Meanwhile, prominent front benchers in the Irish government have revealed that part of their expenses claims were diverted to pay additional staff.

Unspent travel expenses are supposed to be returned under rules introduced in 2010.

Yet in one case, Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty put €8,000 (£6,500) worth of unspent travel and accommodation expenses towards hiring part-time party workers.

Another frontbencher, foreign affairs spokesman Padraig MacLochlainn, also confirmed that he used unspent expenses in the same way. The revelation is likely to fuel calls for an inquiry into how the party uses taxpayer funds. Despite the admissions, Sinn Fein headquarters last night denied that its TDs were using unspent expenses in this way.


Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...#ixzz1yQDhdQDf

Why would religion ever come up on a job application of interview?

It wouldn't. All local applicants in NI are required to identify which community they come from.

ardmacha wrote: »

It wouldn't. All local applicants in NI are required to identify which community they come from.

Really? Seems an odd way to move past the divisions of old, no?

Just heard on UTV Live this evening that in recent years if you applied for a job with the DRD if you were a catholic you were twice as likely to get a job than if you were a protestant.

This is not in itself evidence of discrimination. There is a developing trend in NI where Catholics are somewhat better educated than Protestants, especially as the latter go to third level education in Britain and don't come back. This will attract comment in future years.

I'm surprised that unionist politicians haven't been on getting their digs in to Sinn Fein and Conor Murphy. All the Northern Ireland parties are probabably at the same thing. It would be sad if that was the case.

Politicians never throw stones in this type of thing as they would hope to do the same themsevles. Judge not lest ye be judged.