Edward Haughey, who was elevated at the weekend to the House of Lords on the recommendation of the Ulster Unionist Party, has rejected criticism of his appointment from DUP MP Mr Gregory Campbell. Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor, reports.
Mr Campbell said that serious questions arose over the ennoblement of Lord Haughey, head of the Newry-based, multi-million pound pharmaceuticals company Norbrook, on the recommendation of the UUP leader Mr David Trimble.
Lord Haughey, a Catholic, is the only person ever to have been appointed to the upper houses of the Irish and British parliaments.
"The actual nomination by the UUP is an amazing one. Mr Haughey is a former member of the Irish Senate put there by Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party!," said Mr Campbell in a statement.
The East Derry MP also criticised the employment record of Norbrook, stating that Protestants were under-represented. Citing the latest Equality Commission monitoring returns, he said the company employed a workforce of over 600 people, 86.3% of whom were Catholic.
Mr Campbell said that as Lord Haughey had donated £1 million to the Conservative Party in 2001, many people wanted to know if he planned to make an "enormous contribution" to the UUP.
A spokesman for Lord Haughey said it was a matter of public record that he made no contributions to the UUP and that his appointment was purely on merit.
The spokesman said Norbrook was in Newry, which had an overwhelmingly Catholic population, and that the Equality Commission had praised the company for its affirmative attempts to recruit more Protestants.