New recruits for Northern Ireland

I was reading the Times earlier today (which I don't normally, as I generally read the Telegraph), and read a rather surprising story. Apparently, a number of Polish immigrants are helping fill the 'Catholic quota' of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Whilst I am pleased that there should be more police in the British isles, I fail to understand the point of such quotas. On this I agree with Ian Paisley Jr, who pointed out (rightly in my opinion) that candidates should be selected on the basis of their skills, and not on their religious beliefs. This attitude of 'so many candidates must be X' may be well intended, but little thought seems to be given to the consequences.