Northern Ireland civil service article 55 review published

A new report shows the extent of fair participation in the Northern Ireland Civil Service by Protestants and Catholics.

Commenting on the report’s findings, the Minister of Finance & Personnel, Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP, MLA said today: “The latest statutory review by the Northern Ireland Civil Service shows that employment and selection policies and systems are fair, objective and non-discriminatory. Protestants and Catholics are fairly represented in many grades and good progress has been made in some areas of under-representation.

“However there remain some areas of concern, in particular Protestants are under-represented at administrative (clerical) and junior management grades. Work will continue where needed, to take appropriate steps to ensure that the Civil Service workforce better reflects the community that it serves.

“I urge community and political leaders to play their part in helping us achieve this objective, by encouraging everyone to recognise the Northern Ireland Civil Service as a career of choice which is open to all,” he added.

The full report of the review is available online on the Department of Finance & Personnel’s website, at:

http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/article_55_review_report.pdf

The report concludes that Northern Ireland Civil Service employment policies are conducive to fair participation by both Catholics and Protestants, and that the workforce shows fair participation in many areas, compared to the labour market.

While there are no significant extremes of under-representation, there are still, nevertheless, several areas where either Protestants or Catholics are under-represented. In particular, and looking at the ‘general service’ grades, wherein work the majority of Northern Ireland civil servants:

Protestants are under-represented at administrative (clerical) and junior management grades; and

Catholics are under-represented at senior levels, but the situation is close to fair participation and should be so by the time of the next review.

The figures indicate that the areas of Protestant under-representation are linked or attributable to fewer Protestants applying for advertised job vacancies, and not any adverse impact in selection, or any kind of discrimination.

The Service will continue to address areas of under-representation by encouraging applications for vacancies from the under-represented community. So-called “reverse discrimination” in selection is illegal; appointments are made strictly on merit from those who apply.

It is hoped that, following publication of the report, local political and community leaders will continue to join in encouraging people from their own communities to appreciate that the Civil Service offers a wide range of rewarding careers, and operates a level playing field to all who apply and serve, regardless of creed or political affiliation.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. At least every three years, and in addition to annual returns to the Equality Commission on the composition of their workforces, Northern Ireland employers must review whether or not Catholics and Protestants are enjoying, and are likely to continue to enjoy, fair participation in their employment. This requirement is imposed by Article 55 of the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998.
2. The last review by the Northern Ireland Civil Service was conducted during 2002, and assessed the position using data at January 2001. The report of the 2005 review is now available, using data as at 1 January 2005.
3. As required, the 2005 review looks at workforce composition as well as relevant employment policies. The key element is a very detailed comparison between the Service’s own workforce, job type by job type, and the potential pool of workers, as represented by the Northern Ireland labour force. This is not an exact process, because the best data on the local workforce is the 2001 Northern Ireland Census, which is several years old and which uses job categories which, inevitably, do not match exactly with any employer’s job and grade structures. The review report, which has been shared with unions, the Equality Commission and local political parties, is the best analysis possible based on expert professional advice.
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