Taoiseach Micheál Martin has appealed for calm in Drumcree in advance of a legal challenge to the Orange Order march next week.
He expressed disappointment that talks aimed at resolving the parade dispute had broken down without agreement, while continuing to urge resolution through mediation.
Speaking in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, the Taoiseach said it was important not to “go back to the divisions of the past”.
“The solution has to be through dialogue, through mediation, through engagement between those within the Orange Order and the local community and the residents association. That is ultimately the way to do this,” he said.
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“I think everyone has to stay calm. I would appeal for calm. I would appeal to political parties not to be inflaming the situation in any way and I think that is important.”
He paid tribute to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), and in particular Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, for his handling of the situation.
“We don’t want anyone to be harmed and that is why I have repeatedly said that the work of the PSNI has been important in that regard and the approach taken by the Chief Constable has been particularly important in his focus and clarity around protecting people from any harm,” he said.
“I regret that the talks did not facilitate a resolution of this. It is very complex and challenging.”
A Belfast High Court appeal by the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition to stop the march in Portadown, Co Armagh, had been scheduled for Friday but was delayed to Monday to facilitate talks.
“I would have hoped the issue could have been resolved before that. In many ways this is about community relations,” Martin said.
“This is something that has to be sustainable in to the future, and ultimately this is something that has to take place in a community and between communities.”
Martin stressed that resolution will ultimately be found through mediation and dialogue.
“If you look across Northern Ireland over the years, it was through mediation and dialogue that many, many contentious parades and so forth were resolved. All of those should stay resolved by the way. No attempt should be made to reopen any of that.”
Talks aimed at resolving the dispute have broken up without agreement on Friday.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Bryant described the situation as being between a “rock and a hard place” after unsuccessful late-night negotiations with both sides.
