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"Any change to marriage law in Northern Ireland is a matter for ministers. "As an employer to 23,000 people, the NICS is committed to ensuring that the workplace is fully inclusive of people regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or disability," she said.
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She said this was the first time NICS has participated in the annual Belfast Pride parade. The NICS did not explain why Mr Sterling used '#ComeOutForChange' in his tweet rather than Belfast Pride's other hashtag, '#bproud2018'.Ī spokeswoman said: "The use of the hashtag and the participation by the NICS in the parade in no way undermines the political impartiality of the office of HOCS or the NICS."
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Since then there have been questions over what decisions senior civil servants can make without ministers.Īccording to the NICS code of ethics, civil servants should maintain "objectivity" and "impartiality", and serve "equally well ministers of different political persuasions", but it also says they have a "commitment to equality and diversity". The north has not had a functioning devolved government since the DUP and Sinn Féin-led executive fell apart early last year. In 2015 a majority of MLAs voted for same-sex marriage, but it was blocked by the DUP using the petition of concern veto. Northern Ireland remains the only part of Ireland and Britain where same-sex marriage remains outlawed. "Had there been devolution up and running there would have been real questions asked in the assembly," he added. Mr Wells said that Mr Sterling's role is "to keep totally neutral and out of politics" and "not to be seen to be campaigning".
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"It's quite clear by the hashtag he's got himself involved in issues for which there is a lively debate in Northern Ireland." "As head of the civil service he has to be totally impartial and neutral, and not to be seen to be involved in any political campaign," Mr Wells said. The South Down MLA asked whether Mr Sterling now intends to take part in next year's Twelfth of July parades. NICS said its participation in Saturday's parade "has no connection to the debate on marriage policy", and '#ComeOutForChange' was used as it was the theme of this year's Pride festival.īut the DUP's Jim Wells yesterday claimed it impacted on the civil service's impartiality. His tweet received widespread praise online including from LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) campaigners. Mr Sterling has been charge of running Northern Ireland in the absence of politicians since the collapse of power-sharing at Stormont early last year. As an employer to 23,000 people, the NICS respects and values diversity and is committed to delivering an inclusive workplace for all our people #NICSdiversity #ComeOutforChange." In his first message from his official Twitter account, he wrote: "Delighted that #myfirstTweet as Head of the NI Civil Service is from Belfast Pride. STORMONT has denied that a tweet from Northern Ireland's chief civil servant at a gay pride parade was showing support for same-sex marriage.ĭavid Sterling posted a photo of himself with Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) staff taking part in Belfast Pride and included the hashtag "#ComeOutForChange".