An interesting one from Sinn Fein's Martina Anderson today in response to the latest statistics from the Equality Commission. These show that 56.3% of the workforce is Protestant, whilst 43.7% is Catholic. The Commission says this fits in with "the long established trend of growth in the Roman Catholic share of the workforce".
However Martina Anderson argues that the Catholic percentage is being "artificially inflated" by the practice of counting migrant workers, many of whom come from Catholic countries, as "Catholics" rather than "others".
The Foyle MLA says the monitoring is intended to address sectarian discrimination and imbalances between the nationalist and unionist communities. Because employers do not perceive migrants as belonging to either community, she argues they should not be counted as "Catholic".
So should we be asking workers whether they are "nationalist" or "unionist" rather than "Catholic" or "Protestant"? And if the Equality Commission did that how would they deal with someone who does not see themselves as belonging to either community, but is "perceived" by others to come from one side or the other?
Given that the NIO generally hold their Christmas drinks in January the new Special Adviser might not be too late to avail of some much needed hospitality. The latest statistics for the cost of NIO Christmas receptions, released in a Westminster written answer, have already caused some controversy, given they show a 9000% rise.
The trend seems to show that Peter Hain did Christmas full on, whereas the pious Paul Murphy was a bit more Scrooge like when it came to celebrating the festive period.
Back in Christmas 2002, Paul Murphy's first in the job, the NIO spent only £426 on a Christmas reception and nothing at all on decorations. Presumably the Secretary of State rummaged around in the loft, just like the rest of us, and decided that last year's baubles would dust off just fine.
By Christmas 2006, Peter Hain's reception bill had risen to a whopping £37,578 and the decorations cost £2,573. He saved a bit on cards though, spending only £2,630 which was down on his first Christmas in the job and down on Paul Murphy's card bill.
We shall have to wait until Philip Hammond MP asks another question next year to find out how Santa Woodward's Christmas habits compare with his predecessors.
Shaun Woodward has just appointed a new Special Adviser. Oonagh Blackman quit the Daily Mirror in November where she was Political Editor. She'll be starting in January.
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