SDLP slams discrimination against Irish citizens

The SDLP has accused the British government of discriminating against Irish citizens by barring them from civil service jobs in the North.

Irish-born applicants for senior jobs in three civil service departments were recently barred from the positions due to their nationality.

The British government said the applicants were ineligible under a British law that bars foreign nationals from one-quarter of all civil service jobs, but SDLP spokesman Sean Farren said he believed the restriction was illegal under EU law.