Post by Papa C. on Apr 18, 2007 12:48:27 GMT
Loyalist-charities link 'mistake'
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news. bbc.co.uk/ go/pr/fr/ -/1/hi/northern_ ireland/6564867. stm
Published: 2007/04/17 16:06:17 GMT
The UFF and UDA were bracketed with Barnardos and the NSPCC
The Department of Education has come under fire over a document seeming to compare loyalist paramilitary groups to children's charities.
The UDA and UVF were described as "voluntary organisations" and bracketed with Barnados and the NSPCC.
The document is a note of a meeting between a group of principals and senior figures in the department.
Dolores Kelly (SDLP) said it was outrageous. The department there was a "mistake" in drafting the minutes.
Ms Kelly, whose party has accused the department of "illegal sectarian discrimination" through an action plan which allegedly favours Protestant neighbourhoods for additional funding, said she was stunned.
"It beggars belief that anybody would compare the UDA and UVF with Barnardo's and the NSPCC," she said.
Dolores Kelly said she was disgusted at the comparison
"Indeed it beggars belief that the UDA and UVF would be asked to help contribute to a plan to help children's education.
"It is, at the same time, ludicrous and insulting. "
The comparison was made in minutes of a meeting between school principals in Protestant areas of north and west Belfast, the chief executive of the city's education and library board and a deputy permanent secretary at the Department of Education.
Called as part of Renewing Communities, the government's response to a taskforce report on working-class Protestant communities, it lists a series of actions needed to develop service delivery integration.
One point states: "Maintain/establish good working relationships with voluntary organisations (Barnardo's, NSPCC, UDA, UVF)."
However, the Department of Education insisted any link arising from the meeting last year was unintentional.
Barnardos is a charity which focuses on children
A spokesman said: "The Department of Education does not equate paramilitary organisations with those doing excellent charity work; neither does the Belfast Education and Library Board.
"The document referred to is a minute of a meeting which took place in June 2006. The minute reflects clumsily views expressed by those who reflections were sought.
"There was no deliberate intention from anyone to equate voluntary organisations with paramilitary bodies. This is a mistake in the drafting of the minutes."
However, Ms Kelly has vowed to take the matter further.
"The SDLP will be writing to the minister for education seeking an urgent explanation for this ill-conceived and worrying plan," she said.
