Allister raises discrimination in Strasbourg
23 April 2008
During Question time in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Jim Allister raised the continuing discrimination against Protestants in recruitment to the PSNI. Highlighting that such was only possible because the Commission permitted derogation from EU legislation banning such discrimination, the Ulster Euro MP pressed Commissioner Spidla on when the Commission would put an end to "this preposterous situation" and restore the rights which all other Europeans enjoy to his constituents.
In the course of his questioning of Commissioner Spidla, Mr Allister said:-
"Mr President, I would like to direct the Commissioner to religious discrimination and to the amazing fact that, despite the EU’s protection against religious discrimination, there is one place in the EU where religious discrimination is permitted. Sadly it is my constituency of Northern Ireland where by reason of a derogation from EU legislation – permitted by the EU – it is expressly declared that it is lawful to discriminate against Protestants when it comes to recruiting to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Can the Commissioner tell us when this preposterous situation will end and the rights which others enjoy will be restored to my constituents?"
