Sinn Féin councillor Dermot Browne has rejected comments by Lord Tom Elliott that Fermanagh and Omagh District Council risks becoming a cold house for Protestants.

Browne said the remarks were divisive and distracted from issues affecting local people. He stated that equality and fair representation are embedded in the council's employment policies.

The comments followed publication of the council's annual Fair Employment Monitoring Return. The figures showed 57 per cent of council employees were from a Catholic background, 35 per cent from a Protestant background, and eight per cent non-determined.

The return also showed 61 per cent of job applicants came from a Catholic background and 24 per cent from a Protestant background. Among internal promotions, 73 per cent of successful candidates were from a Catholic background and 18 per cent from a Protestant background.

The council said the workforce composition broadly reflected 2021 Census data for the district, which showed 64 per cent of residents belong to or were brought up in the Catholic religion and 31 per cent from a Protestant or other Christian tradition.

Lord Elliott said there had been significant concern for some time at the low level of employment by the council of those from the Protestant community. He said the council had a responsibility to ensure fairness and equality in employment and retention of staff.

A council spokeswoman said the local authority was committed to equality and inclusion. She said the council was an equal opportunities employer registered with the Equality Commission under the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998.