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An investigation by BBC News NI has revealed that numerous Northern Ireland Assembly members are engaging in staff recruitment practices that could potentially lead to claims of unlawful discrimination. First Minister Michelle O’Neill is among those under scrutiny, as job postings for her constituency office indicated that applicants should hold specific political beliefs to meet the “essential criteria”. While guidance for members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) emphasizes providing equality of opportunity regardless of political opinion, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland highlighted potential legal risks due to the job requirements.
MLAs are advised on best practices for recruitment by the assembly, but ultimately it is up to each individual MLA to appoint staff based on merit after a fair competition. Sinn Féin stated that staff members are hired to support the priorities of MLAs for constituency and assembly business, which may be influenced by their political perspective. The expenses claimed by MLAs for staffing costs exceeded £8 million in 2023-24, covering wages for constituency office employees.
Most of the investigated job postings with specific political requirement language were associated with Sinn Féin MLAs, including First Minister Michelle O’Neill. Concerns were raised by employment solicitor Cormac Rice regarding the potential implications of predetermining job vacancies based on political affiliation, raising questions about equality of opportunity for all candidates. While the Assembly Commission emphasizes equality of opportunity and merit-based recruitment, the Equality Commission underscored the importance of adhering to equality laws in employment practices.
Recruitment documents obtained through Freedom of Information requests revealed insights into the recruitment practices of MLAs, highlighting the prevalence of party-affiliated hires and the range of positions being filled. Titles such as social media officers and communications staff were prevalent among the advertised roles, prompting concerns about their alignment with constituency service responsibilities. Calls for a thorough audit of financial arrangements in light of these recruitment trends have been made, emphasizing the need for transparent and fair recruitment processes based on merit
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