brown trousers
23rd Jan 2001, 04:17
Article that appeared in newspaper 20/01/01:
A Manchester-Irishman has been refused security clearance to work at Manchester Airport because Irish law prevents his employers from carrying out checks on his Irish-born parents.
Bernard Sheerin, from Cheetham Hill, was asked in his job application for ADI Security to fill in the names and dates of birth of his parents who have lived in Manchester for 50 years.
British aviation policy requires applicants for jobs deemed a possible security risk to be screened.
Irish data protection policy only allows information to be disclosed on applicants, and not their relatives.
Officials at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) have advised the security firm not to employ Mr Sheerin on “security duties”.
The policy has serious implications for second-generation Irish people working in jobs that require security checks.
In a letter to Mr Sheerin’s personnel manager, the DETR wrote: “We have been advised by one of our agencies that difficulties have arisen at government level in the Republic of Ireland.
“The effect of this is that there will be a considerable delay in the processing of... clearances for any candidate who has a spouse or parents with a ROI (Republic of Ireland) origins.
“The situation, which is the same across all Whitehall departments... is being watched by The Cabinet Office.
“If and when we hear of any progress we will let you know. In the meantime he should not be employed on security duties.”
Mr Sheerin, who is currently working in an administrative position for ADI, had worked in security at Manchester Airport for six months.
Rose Morris, the cultural officer at the Irish World Heritage Centre in Manchester, told The Irish Post: “With all the co-operation between Ireland and Britain, I think it is not encouraging to hear that you would not trust a person of Irish descent to do security work.”
The centre has taken up Mr Sheerin’s case with his local MP Graham Stringer and the Irish Embassy.
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I was born and bred in Manchester and my irish parents have lived in England for 40 years+ (both working for local councils).
What I want to know is : would my chances of getting clearance for a job in ATC be up the swanny????
Are there any ATCO's with irish parents out there???
BT.
[This message has been edited by brown trousers (edited 23 January 2001).]
A Manchester-Irishman has been refused security clearance to work at Manchester Airport because Irish law prevents his employers from carrying out checks on his Irish-born parents.
Bernard Sheerin, from Cheetham Hill, was asked in his job application for ADI Security to fill in the names and dates of birth of his parents who have lived in Manchester for 50 years.
British aviation policy requires applicants for jobs deemed a possible security risk to be screened.
Irish data protection policy only allows information to be disclosed on applicants, and not their relatives.
Officials at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) have advised the security firm not to employ Mr Sheerin on “security duties”.
The policy has serious implications for second-generation Irish people working in jobs that require security checks.
In a letter to Mr Sheerin’s personnel manager, the DETR wrote: “We have been advised by one of our agencies that difficulties have arisen at government level in the Republic of Ireland.
“The effect of this is that there will be a considerable delay in the processing of... clearances for any candidate who has a spouse or parents with a ROI (Republic of Ireland) origins.
“The situation, which is the same across all Whitehall departments... is being watched by The Cabinet Office.
“If and when we hear of any progress we will let you know. In the meantime he should not be employed on security duties.”
Mr Sheerin, who is currently working in an administrative position for ADI, had worked in security at Manchester Airport for six months.
Rose Morris, the cultural officer at the Irish World Heritage Centre in Manchester, told The Irish Post: “With all the co-operation between Ireland and Britain, I think it is not encouraging to hear that you would not trust a person of Irish descent to do security work.”
The centre has taken up Mr Sheerin’s case with his local MP Graham Stringer and the Irish Embassy.
--------------------------------------------
I was born and bred in Manchester and my irish parents have lived in England for 40 years+ (both working for local councils).
What I want to know is : would my chances of getting clearance for a job in ATC be up the swanny????
Are there any ATCO's with irish parents out there???
BT.
[This message has been edited by brown trousers (edited 23 January 2001).]