§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what statutory protection exists for constables of the Northern Ireland Airports Authority from unfair dismissal; what statutory police federation exists to represent them; and what statutory restrictions exist on their entitlement to join a trade union.
§ Mr. Atkins[holding answer 30 June 1992]: Persons employed in police service, or in any other capacity by virtue of which they have the powers or privileges of a constable are excluded from the unfair dismissal legislation. Accordingly, constables of the Northern Ireland Airports Authority have no statutory protection from unfair dismissal. There are no statutory restrictions on their entitlement to join a trade union and they are represented by the Belfast Airport Police Association rather than a statutory police federation.