PARADES:THE ULSTER Unionists have strongly attacked proposals being considered by the DUP-Sinn Féin-led Executive on the management of contentious parades.
The management of marches was a key sticking point during negotiations at Hillsborough in February on the devolution of justice, which was completed this week. The UUP is now keen to make it an election issue and has accused the DUP of agreeing to ideas which will weaken the Orange Order.
The parties are bitterly divided over the issue of unionist unity, especially in South Belfast, which is held by the SDLP because of split unionist voting.
The Stormont Executive was expected to have put out to consultation its proposals on parading after its meeting yesterday. But this has been delayed.
David McNarry and Tom Elliott, both prominent Ulster Unionist Assembly members and Orangemen, said the proposals “appeared to put Orange parades right in the cockpit of the whims of the Republican agenda, which no one can deny has the objective of taking Orange feet off the streets”.
They added: “Once again Peter Robinson’s leadership frailties are exposed as he has been sucked in and blown out by Martin McGuinness.”
The proposals are intended to replace the Parades Commission, which has ruled on contested parades for more than 10 years and is hated by the loyal orders.
The blueprint would see a new body ruling on parades – answerable to Mr Robinson’s and Mr McGuinness’s Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
But according to the Ulster Unionists, this is “simply the Parades Commission Mark II. Claiming a blatant rebrand as a success is a SF/DUP tactic the people of Northern Ireland are getting tired of.”
Mr McNarry and Mr Elliott said the plans “indicate that the DUP are running scared”.
“It is no coincidence that its publication is coming just days after the devolution of policing and justice. It is yet another example of the lack of transparency of the DUP/Sinn Féin carve-up – they have ploughed on ahead without seeking the input of the Ulster Unionist Party. And by doing this the DUP have denied our electorate – fellow unionists – of their voice on parading.
“The members of the ‘Parades Commission Mark II’ will be appointed by Robinson and McGuinness – the UUP’s opinion will be excluded again and our voice silenced within the formal structures. This is not what the people of Northern Ireland want from Stormont.” They warned the DUP would have a lot to answer for if the new parades body “weakens the Orange Order any further”.
Sources have told The Irish Times the plans would see the creation of new bodies to oversee contentious marches, which would be appointed by the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
The plans, crucially, mark a departure from proposals drawn up by former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown and will include a requirement for both sides in a dispute to engage in dialogue.
The proposals are further expected to include a prohibition on the blocking of a legal parade and the breaking of any adjudication made by the new body.
They will require legislation to be approved by the Assembly in time to replace the Parades Commission by January 1st, 2011.
The proposals are expected to be made public later today and the DUP will reply to the Ulster Unionist criticisms.