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Wilson 'has brought shame' - Ford DUP defends Wilson's jobs remark
(19 minutes later)
The environment minister has been accused of "bringing shame on Northern Ireland" by the Alliance's David Ford. A DUP colleague has defended comments by Environment Minister Sammy Wilson that jobs should go to locals ahead of foreign nationals during the recession.
Sammy Wilson said on Sunday firms should give jobs to locals ahead of foreign nationals in the recession. The SDLP's Dolores Kelly called on Jeffrey Donaldson to ask the Office of the First and Deputy First Minster to get him to withdraw the remarks.
Mr Ford said Mr Wilson should withdraw his comments. She said his comments had sent our "a poor message" to foreign nationals.
A DUP spokesman said its record in government showed it was "committed to equality and fairness for every single person in NI regardless of their background". However, the junior minister said Mr Wilson was "entitled to participate in that debate and discussion".
"In saying what he did, Sammy Wilson expressed a belief held by tens of thousands of people throughout Northern Ireland that it is the duty of government to look after the people of Northern Ireland and that business leaders and employers should try in so far as possible to do the same," the DUP spokesman added. Mr Donaldson told the Assembly: "In times of economic downturn it is perfectly legitimate to question if immigration policy needs to be restricted further in relation to economic migrants."
Sinn Féin assembly member Sue Ramsey said: "As a minister who has taken a pledge of office, he must serve everyone living here equally." Mr Wilson has faced calls from a number of politicians for him to withdraw his remarks, which he made on the BBC's Politics Show on Sunday.
She added: "What Sammy Wilson fails to recognise is the rights and entitlements of foreign workers and the fact that laws, especially European laws, make working across countries a basic right." Alliance Party leader David Ford accused him of "bringing shame on Northern Ireland".
Earlier in the week, Bob Collins, of the Equality Commission, criticised Mr Wilson's comments, made on the BBC's Politics Show. Sinn Féin assembly member Sue Ramsey said: "What Sammy Wilson fails to recognise is the rights and entitlements of foreign workers and the fact that laws, especially European laws, make working across countries a basic right."
"You can't restrict applications for positions on the basis of a preferred national identity. The law is crystal clear." Earlier in the week, Bob Collins, of the Equality Commission, said the law on job appointments was "crystal clear".
"You can't restrict applications for positions on the basis of a preferred national identity," he said.
Mr Wilson said on Sunday: "I think you've got to be very careful when you talk in those terms because people always accuse you of being racist and xenophobic.
"However, when it comes to a downturn, I think if jobs are becoming vacant and you've got people with equal skills, and can do the job, etcetera, then I think preference should be given to people from Northern Ireland."