She said:

“Having failed to put forward any serious ideas for how to address Brexit, it appears that the British Government are now finally doing some planning, but for the one thing they promised to avoid. Instead of putting out job advertisements, the British Government should take some serious time to spell out clearly what form of Border they anticipate these employees to be guarding.

“The SDLP will not stand for any borders or barriers on this island. We will continue to fight to protect the rights and freedoms of people here.

“The apparent bar on Irish passport holders from applying for these jobs is however exclusionary and chilling, and likely to be in breach of fair employment guidance. All of us must question what other jobs or services are to be reserved for, as the Home Office has put it, those with “special allegiance to the Crown”? For the SDLP this is completely unacceptable. That’s why I have referred the actions of the British Government in relation to these jobs to the Equality Commission for investigation. Everyone should know that the hard won rights for all citizens of this island should not be compromised.”