the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (c. 32): section 46 (discrimination in appointments)
I wonder if you can guess who spoke these words:
Ulster stands at a crossroads. The time has come when the people of Ulster should have the opportunity to have full civil and religious liberty for all men—all men equal under the law, all men equally subject to the law. The sooner we achieve that, the better for us all. We surely should be able to unite on that subject.
They were spoken during a debate on ending the 50/50 recruitment ruling in Police recruitment in Northern Ireland. The Police Service of Northern Ireland must by law recruit an equal amount of Protestants as roman Catholics, a consequence of which is that otherwise perfectly qualified individuals are rejected purely on the basis of what religion they were born into.
It’s a pretty nasty piece of legislation. It has directly affected the lives of my friends, some of which are now applying for the 4th or 5th time, each time getting all the way to the end (a process which takes nearly a year), each time being rejected because they are Protestant. (That last line will make it nice and easy for the Trolls.)
It was Ian Paisley who said the above. I’ve never voted DUP before, in Northern Ireland terms I’m too liberal, but that one statement in and of itself is something I could sign up for.
«3 CommentsApril 22, MMVI»
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Just the way the RUC was a nasty oul police force with one
agenda…pursuit of their own sectarian self interest namely the
persecution of ordinary Catholics. I suppose you’d be happier if
we went back to the times of over 90% protestant just so your mates would get into the force. Leave your own personal pish to yourslef youngfella.
oh just me again,
Suppose you never thought about this but did you ever think that perhaps theres also Catholics being turned down for the PSNI? After all, and maybe your that bigoted that you didnt think of this, but its 50/50. fuck sake, you’d think prods were being completely excluded from the force. Move on, get over your sectarian shite would ye. Your oul fucking friends applying for the fourth or fifth time…jesus christ they must be desperate.
Wake me up when you have something interesting to say Conor.