10th June 2002

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Executive fails to tackle unemployment differential

Sinn Fein Equality Spokesperson has accused the Executive of failing to deliver on its Programme for Government commitment to tackle the unemployment differential between Catholics and Protestants.

Mr Murphy said:

``Fifteen years ago the unemployment differential between Catholics and Protestants was 1.8 - i.e. Catholics were 1.8 times more likely to be unemployed than Protestants.

``The latest figures put the differential at 2.1. On this evidence we are going backwards despite clear commitments in the Programme for Government to tackle the unemployment differential.

``This Executive has now been in place for the guts of three years yet the differential is getting worse. We have to ask serious questions about why this fundamental gap remains and why there has been no progress in creating a more equal society.

``Members of the Executive such as David Trimble have frequently alluded to the rising tide lifting everyone out of the unemployment trap. Yet we cannot avoid the issues raised about structural inequality in our society when such inequality remains and gets wider.''

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