Interesting the Women's Coalition got 3/3 shortlisted. Does it not disturb anyone that the most outwardly discriminatory party in Northern Ireland is one of only 3 with a 100% record of candidates making it to shortlist?

This coupled with the 8 labour candidates shortlisted will likely ensure any Human Rights commission, rather than dealing with fundamental rights, will be so wishy-washy and all-encompassing that it will have no respect from anyone and be wide open to abuse.

Beano

Careful now your complaints are obviously motivated by a deep-rooted and never-ending well of sectarianism.

fair_deal

Surely more likey a never-ending well of misogyny and illiberalism in these cases ;-)

Notable too that SF are the only main party completely unrepreented...

i can almost see Newton Emmerson sharpening his pen for the Irish News. Can't wait!

I'd be happy to oblige Brendan - but I'm afraid that this isn't going to be much of a surprise to anybody. Plus you can't blame a girl for trying. I'm more surprised that Sinn Fein didn't put candidates forward. Anyone got any idea why? Catriona Ruane would have been just as credible an applicant as Monica McWilliams and I mean that only as an insult to Monica McWilliams. Also, is this only the post of chief commissioner we're talking about here (as the transcript infers) or are these applications for all posts on the commission? It seems like an awful lot of multiple applicants from every party for a single position.
If two of Monica's WC colleagues applied for a job that had clearly been lined up for her from the middle of last year then, well, so much for the sisterhood...

- and yes, I realise that Catriona didn't apply because she was due to be MP for South Down. But you know what I mean.

In fact isn't it strange that Sinn Fein never pushes for any of the plum quango postings that Buggins Turn alone surely entitles it to? It's all strangely reminiscent of Gerry's "I'm too busy to take a ministry" thing when d'Hondt was first run. Is this high principle or low strategy? Are they selflessly sparing us all the fuss or cynically sparing themselves the responsibility?