Sammy wilson "racist and xenophobic"?

[Mr Crowley]

Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has said firms should give jobs to locals ahead of foreign nationals in the current economic downturn.

He said it made sense to give preference to people "with roots here".

"I think you've got to be very careful when you talk in those terms because people always accuse you of being racist and xenophobic.

"But there have been a lot of people who moved in because of opportunities that there were," he said.

"However, equally when it comes to a downturn, I think if jobs are becoming vacant and you've got people with equal skills, and can do the job, etc., then I think preference should be given to people from Northern Ireland."

Last year Mr Wilson angered green campaigners by describing their view on climate change as a "hysterical pseudo-religion".

He said he believed it occurred naturally and was not man-made.

"Resources should be used to adapt to the consequences of climate change, rather than King Canute-style vainly trying to stop it," said the minister.

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How could a member of the DUP be ever be described as "racist and xenophobic"; surely it's just a case of their beliefs dictating that they wouldn't have a foreigner, gay, Fenian or environmentalist 'about the place'.

[sandar]

Its not news, people who would be DUP supporters advocated no catholics being employed in Harland and Wolf years ago, its standard practice for the party

[TradCat]

A lot of people on both sides of the border would agree with him. But of course it is illegal. Is it any worse that Brian Lenihan's suggestion that we shop on this side of the border? I think not.

[Xipe Totec]

every word that a planter says is horribly biased in favour of his own grotesque self-interest.

if you want a reason to support liberation struggle, just listen to the whinging of a unionist about the taigs, an american about the blacks, an israeli about the palestinans (etc etc etc) and know that the only way to shut them up is to transform them from oppressors into human beings.

[Keith-M]

A lot of people on both sides of the border would agree with him. But of course it is illegal. Is it any worse that Brian Lenihan's suggestion that we shop on this side of the border? I think not.

It's EXACTLY the same thing. Lenihan was wrong to say it and so is Wilson (who I admire). The free movement of labour and of the customer is at the heart of a free Europe.

[Catalpa]

He's only voicing what is a 'Vox Pop' by this stage.

It makes absolutely no sense North or South for more people to arrive here in Ireland looking for work when there are not enough jobs for us who were born and raised here.

Obviously where I would differ from Mr Wilson is that I think any Irish person from anywhere in Ireland should be considered first in the jobs stakes.

[Trefor1.1]

It's EXACTLY the same thing. Lenihan was wrong to say it and so is Wilson (who I admire). The free movement of labour and of the customer is at the heart of a free Europe.

Is it Sammy's trumpet playing skills that you admire Keith?

[joel]

It's EXACTLY the same thing. Lenihan was wrong to say it and so is Wilson (who I admire). The free movement of labour and of the customer is at the heart of a free Europe.

He said people from Northern Ireland - directly contradicting you.

[corelli]

every word that a planter says is horribly biased in favour of his own grotesque self-interest.

if you want a reason to support liberation struggle, just listen to the whinging of a unionist about the taigs, an american about the blacks, an israeli about the palestinans (etc etc etc) and know that the only way to shut them up is to transform them from oppressors into human beings.

My family were planters and I object to being lumped in with bigoted climate change denying DUP members, thank you very much.

[Mr Crowley]

A lot of people on both sides of the border would agree with him. But of course it is illegal. Is it any worse that Brian Lenihan's suggestion that we shop on this side of the border? I think not.

While I would disagree with Lenihan's partitionism I don't think it's as bad as Wilson's call for employment discrimination.
There is a major differance between 'shop local' and 'no foreigners need apply'.