EVELYN COLLINS,
Sir, - Lady Sylvia Hermon, in her address to the Ballinasloe Chamber of Commerce (The Irish Times, January 21st), correctly states that the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland supports the special measures for recruitment to the Police Service for Northern Ireland.
I would hope that, when our reasons for taking this position are considered, unionists can remain confident of the commission's commitment to the promotion of equality and fair participation for everyone in Northern Ireland.
The recruitment measures do treat applicants differently on religious grounds, by providing for the appointment of an equal number of Catholics and non-Catholics. This exceptional departure from the principles of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order has been provided for by amendment of that order and by a specific provision in the European Council Directive on equal treatment in employment.
The commission considered this issue carefully at the time of consultation on the Police Act, and concluded that, in order to attain a police service representative of the whole community, the significant under-representation of Roman Catholics in the police needed to be addressed by special measures.
The police service is a key public institution and its significance to the achievement of a lasting peace in Northern Ireland makes it unique. It is in this context that the commission has supported the use of this measure, which is time-limited, so that a more representative composition can be achieved as soon as possible. We reached this conclusion because our experience of the implementation of affirmative action, including our work with the RUC, suggested strongly that measures then lawful were unlikely to produce the necessary change in the composition of the police service for a considerable period. It is the commission's hope that the action being taken will be successful and will, in the future, no longer be necessary.
In other instances, of course, it is unlawful to discriminate against any person in Northern Ireland on grounds of religious belief or political opinion. This is a key responsibility for the Equality Commission and we implement it fairly and impartially, advising and assisting people who are Protestant and Catholic, unionist and nationalist, as well as those who subscribe to none of these beliefs. In our daily work with members of the public, with business and with public bodies, we challenge discrimination from all sources and promote equality of opportunity for all the people of Northern Ireland.
I trust this makes clear the rationale for our position in support of the exceptional measure for recruitment to the police. We remain committed to the principles of equality, independence and objectivity in all our work. - Yours, etc..,
EVELYN COLLINS, Chief Executive, The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Belfast.