9th July 2002

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There is an increasing hardening of attitudes by both Protestants and Catholics towards living, working and learning together according to new UU research.

The research, by Dr Joanne Hughes and Dr Caitlin Donnelly from the School of Policy Studies at UU reveals that Protestants’ and Catholics’ perceptions of each other are becoming increasingly negative.

Using data from the Life and Times Survey survey - conducted annually by the University of Ulster and Queen’s University - the researchers show that public opinion has shifted dramatically downwards since 1996 - the year after the paramilitary ceasefires - and that the pace of change has increased in the last two years.

The principal findings of their research, conducted with 1800 adults in Northern Ireland, include:

Fewer people think that relations between Protestant and Catholics are better now than five years ago. In 1996 44% of Protestants and 47% of Catholics thought inter-community relationships were better than five years previously. In 2001 these totals had slumped to 25% and 33% respectively.

Since 1999 there has been a steady increase in desire for single identity community, workplace and schools. In 1999 26% of Protestants and 18% of Catholics expressed a preference for own religion neighbourhood. Two years later the figures had risen to 32% and 22% respectively.

In 1999 12% of Protestants and 6% of Catholics wanted own religion workplaces, figures which rose to 21% and 14% respectively two years later. A similar trend emerged on the question of own religion schools with 29% of Protestants and 21% of Catholics favouring this option in 1999 rising to 37% and 29% respectively two years later.

There is broad support for equality and fair treatment laws in Northern Ireland with 63% of respondents disagreeing with the statement “there is no need for equality laws”. However both communities agree that Catholics have benefited most from such laws. Some 94% of Protestants and Catholics believe that Catholics are treated better or the same as five years ago compared to 73% who believe that Protestants are treated better or the same.

When actual experiences are taken into account, only 3% of respondents believed that they had been refused a job because of their religion, and 95% believed they had not been unfairly treated when applying for promotion - and 95% believed they had not been treated unfairly by colleagues because of their religion.

Significantly 39% of Protestants believe they are treated worse than five years ago while just 4% of Catholics think they are now treated less well.

Protestants have less confidence than Catholics in the peace process. Only 26% of Protestants compared to 54% of Catholics feel happy that progress has been made and more Protestants than Catholics (45% and 36% respectively) have mixed feeling on the process.

The authors say: “The challenge to all those involved in community relations at government/policy making/voluntary and community level is to explore the factors contributing to recent negative trends and to identify strategies that might address the concerns of both communities”.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk