PEOPLE from the Republic are being prevented from applying for top public-sector jobs in Northern Ireland to safeguard the unionist majority, the High Court in Belfast heard yesterday.
The claim was made by Mr Michael Lavery QC, appearing for Mr Edward O'Boyle from Dublin, who challenged a decision rejecting his application for the £55,000 post as the North's chief fire officer.
Mr Lavery said the old Northern Ireland Safeguarding of Employment Act had been replaced by a rule barring non-UK nationals from being eligible for senior posts in the public sector.
He said the rule did not apply in the rest of the United Kingdom so the only explanation for the decision was a desire to continue to discriminate against applicants from the Republic.
"The majority of the people there are Catholics and the object was to reduce the risk of Catholics getting jobs in Northern Ireland and therefore safeguard the unionist majority," said Mr Lavery.
Mr Lavery was speaking at the opening of Mr O'Boyle's application for judicial review of a decision declaring him ineligible for the chief fire officer's job.
Mr O'Boyle (39), from Neville Road, Rathgar, who is the deputy chief fire officer in Dublin, is claiming that he was discriminated against because of his Irish nationality.
The hearing continues today.