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True Equality

Posted by Sammy Wilson, MP for East Antrim, at 09:23, Fri 15 October 2010:

On Monday there was a debate on public sector recruitment in Northern Ireland. Below is part of my contribution to the debate.

“Every year, equality monitoring in my Department alone costs £200,000. Do not forget that equality monitoring extends across all Departments, the Equality Commission and all the other bodies that go with it. The first question that people must ask themselves is whether that is how they wish to spend resources in times of economic austerity. Is that the priority that we should set, especially as it is clear that people on that side of the House or this side of the House will not be satisfied? My first observation, therefore, is that all the figures of the day will not necessarily address the problem.

My second observation is this; I agree with the first part of the motion. It is important that public sector recruitment, and, indeed, recruitment in any sector, is based solely on the merit principle. I am advised by officials every day. People come and give me papers, information, et cetera. I do not really give a toss which church they go to on a Sunday. However, I am concerned about whether they give me sound advice and the information that I want and whether they understand the issues that are involved in the Department. Their religion is immaterial to me. I want quality advice from people who can do the job, who are enthusiastic, and who will serve the Department well. As far as I am concerned, those are the only qualifications that count. If we concentrate on those, much of what Members have mentioned in the debate becomes less important.

Let us have a reality check. If there is imbalance in some Departments, which has been oft-quoted in the debate, the only way to solve it is, usually, to recruit more people or wait until vacancies arise. People cannot be sacked because there are too many Catholics or too many Protestants. Some Departments already have recruitment freezes, and during the next number of years, there will not be the opportunity to recruit, let alone recruit on the basis of trying to resolve some perceived imbalance or discrimination. In fact, in one or two years’ time, the Assembly might be happy that there is any recruitment, full stop, rather than dwelling on the group from which people are recruited.”