Council boycotts recruitment fairs with armed forces presence

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 10:01 · Archive

Derry City and Strabane District Council has voted to withdraw from organising recruitment fairs that include the UK armed forces.

Derry City and Strabane District Council has voted to withdraw any involvement in the organisation or marketing of future jobs fairs that include the UK military. The council's decision follows a recent jobs fair organised by the Department for Communities where armed forces recruiters were present.

The council argued that the presence of the armed forces at the fair acted as a 'barrier' for some people seeking employment opportunities. The matter was raised during questions for Communities Minister Gordon Lyons at the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday by DUP MLA for Foyle Julie Middleton.

Mr Lyons condemned the decision, saying: 'I want to help everybody in Northern Ireland access careers to work for them, and I believe it's an absolute shame and it is a disgrace that the council had taken this decision.' He claimed 'deep-seated intolerance' was at the heart of the move and called it discriminatory.

'I understand that a job in the armed forces may not be for everybody, I understand that, but why should people decide that they won't allow others to hear about the opportunities that exist?' Mr Lyons said. 'I believe that it is discriminatory, and as I've said, I believe that the heart of it all is a deep-seated intolerance.'

The Derry Journal reports that Mr Lyons was reminded of Bloody Sunday during the debate and accused of 'glossing over the British Army's record in Derry' when he made his criticism of the council's position.

How it is being reported

• Lyons reminded of Bloody Sunday as he brands Derry British Army jobs fair opposition a ‘shame and disgrace’Gordon Lyons was reminded of Bloody Sunday and accused of ‘glossing over the British Army's record in Derry’ when he called Derry City & Strabane District Council’s decision to withdraw support for jobs fairs involving British armed forces a ‘disgrace' at Stormont on Monday.Derry Journal · 3 Nov, 09:50
• Decision to boycott recruitment fairs attended by military branded ‘disgraceful’DUP Minister Gordon Lyons was speaking after Derry City and Strabane District Council voted to withdraw any involvementBelfast Live · 2 Nov, 17:25
• Decision to boycott recruitment fairs attended by military branded ‘disgraceful’Belfast Telegraph · 2 Nov, 16:54

In this story: Gordon Lyons · Derry City and Strabane District Council · Julie Middleton · Derry · Northern Ireland · Department for Communities

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log