Ulster Unionist Party Leader Mike Nesbitt has voiced his concerns at evidence of sectarian bias against the Protestant community by Sinn Fein Ministers following the release of figures regarding public appointments made by Culture, Arts & Leisure Minister Caral Ni Chuilin which indicated that Catholic applicants were more than twice as likely to be appointed to positions on public bodies as Protestants.
The Strangford MLA said:
“Following the findings that the then Sinn Fein DRD Minister Conor Murphy was guilty of religious discrimination against a Protestant applicant, the news that another Sinn Fein Minister – Caral Ni Chuilin of DCAL - has appointed twice as many Catholics as Protestants to positions on public bodies will be the cause of great concern.
The DCAL figures are particularly worrying given that although almost equal numbers of Catholics and Protestants applied – 71 and 70 respectively - 14 Catholics were appointed and only six Protestants.
Added to the findings of the Fair Employment Tribunal against Conor Murphy whilst DRD minister, there will be grave and quite understandable concern about discrimination by some of our political leaders.
Sinn Fein talk the talk about an Ireland of Equals. The evidence suggests they are not yet walking the walk."
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