SF and equality body disagree over workplace discrimination

Sinn Féin has clashed with the Equality Commission in the North over the disputed existence of anti-Catholic discrimination in the workplace.

The commission has described the Catholic-Protestant balance in the Northern workforce as "very fair", but Sinn Féin has claimed that this is demonstrably untrue.

The equality body said the Catholic share of the workforce had increased by almost 6% since 1990.

However, Sinn Féin said the annual increase of around 1% was miniscule and disproportionate to the economically-active population.

It said Harland and Wolff, for example, employed 12 Catholics and 235 Protestants, while the Shorts Aerospace workforce was 15% Catholic and 85% Protestant.