‘The DUP has been trusted with a mandate from a section of society who traditionally did not vote and as such it needs to deliver. A good start would be abandoning support for academic selection, which disadvantages the working classes, investing in education that will help young men reach university rather than prison’.
If I were Allison I wouldn’t hold my breath. In 2011 Professor Peter Shirlow then at Queen’s University Belfast was part of a working group which produced a report, ‘Educational disadvantage and the Protestant working class: A call to Action’. Prof Shirlow in his evidence to the Stormont Education Committee pointed out that a total of 75 per cent of lower than expected schools were in the controlled sector and that pupils in Catholic secondary schools who were on free school meals were twice as likely to go to university as pupils on free school meals in Protestant secondary schools. He also said: ‘I have taught in universities here for a significant amount of time, but I have rarely taught Protestant males from the Shankill, the Shore Road, Nelson Drive or other such communities’.
In 2015 the Progressive Unionist Party published a report, ‘Firm Foundations’ which advocated an end to academic selection. These two reports and a mountain of research which shows that all the top education systems in the world from Korea to Finland to Canada are Comprehensive has been continually ignored by the DUP who in October of 2016 launched a briefing paper on the theme of underachievement among young disadvantaged Protestant boys and girls. The report completely failed to address the issue of selection at 11 and the devastating effect that it has on working-class communities both Catholic and Protestant.
In 2015 the DUP walked out of Stormont and Arlene Foster remained in the executive to prevent nationalists, as she said, from taking actions that would harm and damage the unionist community. She gave the example of Martin McGuinness, when he was education minister, using the dying moments of devolution to abolish the 11-plus. She said ‘ We will not sit back and allow such actions to happen again’
The DUP has an educational agenda which doesn’t include the Protestant working classes and is only interested in maintaining the Status Quo.
More shame on them.
JIM CURRAN
Downpatrick, Co Down
Who are the DUP to complain about terrorism?
It is absolutely disgusting to see the bias displayed by the media in regard to DUP double standards on terrorism. Did the DUP’s first leader not march with the Ulster Protestant Volunteers who engaged in violent sabotage? Willie McCrea shared a platform with Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright at Drumcree.
I have previously written on the subject of DUP double standards on terrorism (February 22). The DUP fielded a candidate in West Belfast who was a member of the UDA. DUP candidates were endorsed by the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando. Former DUP council candidate John Smyth jnr was sentenced to eight years for pipe bombing his Polish neighbours. There was also DUP involvement in Ulster Resistance who trafficked loyalist arms and the DUP also set up the precursor to Ulster Resistance known as Third Force. The DUP were involved in and supported the Ulster Workers Council strike which often descended into violence. It is clear that there is an undeniable link between the DUP and loyalist terrorism. Also when there are strong and substantial allegations that a Saudi prince with links to military intelligence donated to the DUP’s Brexit campaign the DUP really ought not to have the temerity to complain about terrorism given the fact that Wahhabi terror is undoubtedly the greatest security threat in the world at the present time.
EAMONN MacGRIANNA
Beal Feirste BT11
NGA claims in terms of Milltown parade incorrect
Gearairdin Nic Caba (June 14) claimed the commemoration held on Easter Sunday was not organised by the National Graves Association. Gearairdin’s claim is incorrect in terms of the parade.
The original reporting of The Irish News on April 17 that the NGA were the organisers of the event was, in fact, correct as is evidenced by the publicity poster for the commemoration which can be seen at tinyurl.com/y79an2gs.
Indeed, the NGA has been successfully holding the commemorations in Milltown Cemetery for many years and also raises funds at them for their important work in maintaining the final resting places of many historical Irish heroes and figureheads.
While Gearairdin is correct that the NGA is not connected nor affiliated to any political party, it is a nationalist/republican organisation. These kinds of events typically feature a speaker and subsequently, Pearse Doherty’s presence in that role was perhaps more indicative of his role as a republican public representative rather than a sign of endorsement for any particular party, including Sinn Féin, on behalf of the NGA.
ANDREW McDONALD
Gowran, Co Kilkenny
Backward views of DUP
Satirists and on-line mickey-takers are understandably having a right giggle at some of the backward views of DUP politicians. But, perhaps, we shouldn’t be so smug here in the south.
It wasn’t that long ago that a FG Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, voted against his own government’s proposal to allow condoms for married couples.
Since the conservative counter-revolution of 1922 we’ve had scandal after scandal, from sexual and physical abuse of children and the vulnerable in ‘care homes’, to failures on divorce, contraception, gay rights, censorship of books, films and songs, etc. Even today we’ve news of a young girl being forcibly detained when she asked for an abortion because her life was in danger.
The backward, bigoted states that resulted from partition were foretold by James Connolly more than 100 years ago when he so presciently predicted that the division of Ireland would result in “a carnival of reaction, north and south”.
Dr SEAN MARLOW
Dublin 11
Respect north’s legal decisions
The Irish News (June 19) reported that Scotland is considering offering free abortions on the NHS to women in Northern Ireland.
Last week the Supreme Court rejected an appeal for women in Northern Ireland to have abortions in England and paid for by the NHS.
Nicola Sturgeon should respect our legal decisions and occupy herself with the many problems in her own country instead of meddling in our affairs.
Dr OWEN GALLAGHER
Glenavy, Co Antrim
