Invest NI has denied asking a leading hotel to keep foreign staff away from business delegates attending a major US investment conference.
Invest NI has denied asking a leading hotel to keep foreign staff away from business delegates attending a major US investment conference.
An assembly member said she was concerned ethnic minority staff had been taken off duties at the Culloden Hotel outside Belfast.
Sinn Fein MLA Jennifer McCann said she was concerned ethnic minority staff had been taken off duties at the Culloden Hotel outside Belfast.
This had been because of fears over their "broken English", she said.
Invest NI said it had raised concerns about service standards, but there were no specific requests about hotel staff.
The hotel said it was aware of concerns raised by Invest NI and was working to find a resolution.
The hotel said it was working to find a resolution.
Invest NI said it had "raised an issue regarding service standards with the management of the Culloden".
Up to 100 delegates from about 80 companies are arriving in Belfast for the US-NI investment conference from Wednesday to Friday.
Up to 100 delegates from about 80 companies are arriving in Belfast for the US-NI investment conference from Wednesday to Friday. You must remember that delegates at this investment conference will not only be looking at investment opportunities, they will also be looking at the diversity of the society here Patrick YuNorthern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities
Invest NI is staging a series of breakfast meetings at the five-star hotel in Cultra.
Invest NI is staging a series of breakfast meetings at the 5-star hotel in Cultra.
The Hastings Hotel Group, which owns the Culloden complex, said in a statement: "At no time was any concern raised regarding the composition of serving staff, their nationality or the inclusion of ethnic minority employees."
A spokesman for the Culloden said concerns had been raised.
An Invest NI spokesman said they had been working closely with management at the Culloden "to ensure that the highest standards of service are available to the delegates".
"It is company policy not to comment on private bookings," he said.
Patrick Yu of the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities said most foreign nationals working at the Culloden had been there for a long time and their language skills were not a problem.
"However, we are aware of concerns raised by INI and are working to find a positive resolution for all parties involved.
"In order to get a job serving in a hotel you have to prove you can speak English so how can it be an issue?" he said.
"The Culloden Estate and Spa is always happy to work with clients on improving their five star experience and appreciate feedback."
'Composition of hotel staff'
Invest NI denied it made specific requests about the composition of the serving staff but conceded it had raised concerns about service standards at the hotel.
"In planning for the conference, Invest NI raised an issue regarding service standards with the management of the Culloden," said a spokesman.
"Invest NI and the management have been working closely together to ensure that the highest standards of service are available to the delegates.
"At no stage has Invest NI made any specific request regarding the composition of the hotel staff."
Patrick Yu of the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities most foreign nationals working at the Culloden had been there for a long time and their language skills were not a problem.
"In order to get a job serving in a hotel you have to prove you can speak English so how can it be an issue?
"You must remember that delegates at this investment conference will not only be looking at investment opportunities, they will also be looking at the diversity of the society here.
"This sends out a bad message, particularly when this week there is also a major European conference in Belfast on integration policy in Northern Ireland."
Sinn Fein assembly member Jennifer McCann said: "The decision to take ethnic minority staff from duties relating to the US Investment Conference would be deeply regrettable. It would be a step backwards.
"The conference must be about investing in our future and tackling inequality. This includes dealing with exclusion and discrimination in our society."
