So last night Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson said of the decision of the Equality Commission to consider taking legal action against Ashers:
"This kind of decision from the Equality Commission is bonkers. They really do need to wind their necks in.
"In times when we are scrapping around trying to get funding for essential services for Northern Ireland, they are tossing it away."
No forgive me it I am wrong but there were recent cuts to services announced in health care provision, which is run by one of his party's ministers, whose predecessor has run up large legal bills to try and prevent gay couples from adopting, this was lost in the supreme court in October 2013. That department is also pursuing legal appeals against a decision that the lifetime ban on Men who've had Sex with Men (MSM) is irrational and should also come into line with the rest of the UK.
Yes, you see there is a department that is scrapping around trying to get funding for essential service that has been tossing it away trying to prevent equality.
So I ask Peter Robinson which is bonkers?
Is it seeking a ruling on something that there is clearly some dispute on, or ignoring or refusing to acknowledge judicial rulings until all levels of appeal are expended at the public's expense?
I wonder, like he would similarly trust a Muslim, would he trust someone from the equality commission to go to the shop for him ?
ReplyDeleteor would that idea be 'bonkers'