Orange Order snubs McGuinness over Twelfth talks bid
An offer of talks from Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to attempt a breakthrough over contentious parades has been rebuffed by the Orange Order.
Mr McGuinness said yesterday if the Order had a problem meeting with Sinn Fein, he could see no reason why Orange leaders could not meet with him and Peter Robinson as First and Deputy First Ministers.
A spokesman for the Grand Lodge of Ireland, which has set up a new committee to examine the parades issue, immediately rejected the overture which came after a spate of violence in towns and cities across Northern Ireland in the past week.
The Orange spokesman would only say: “The current policy of the Grand Lodge of Ireland is not to meet with Sinn Fein.”
While Mr McGuinness said any effort to achieve new talks must take place before Christmas, it was made clear that there is no prospect of Grand Lodge policy changing in the near future.
One potential mechanism remains, however, if the committee established by Grand Lodge were to be permitted to meet with Mr McGuinness.
New Grand Master Edward Stevenson told the Belfast Telegraph earlier this year he wanted the committee to do some “blue-sky thinking”.
The special committee, chaired by veteran Belfast Orange Order leader Raymond Spiers, has already met once, but will not begin formal deliberations until early September.
It was set up after Grand Lodge last year threw out a package hammered out by a DUP and Sinn Fein working group which would have lead to the demise of the Order’s bete noire – the Parades Commission.
The two-tier scheme was the result of intense negotiations following the political deal which saw policing and justice powers devolved to Stormont last year – the last phase of devolution.
Mr Stevenson said: “They start with a clean sheet, but if they wish they can look at some attributes of the proposals last year.”
Mr McGuinness and Mr Robinson said while the recent violence had been at a lower level and less intense than previous years, it still remained unacceptable and had to be condemned.
At a press conference outside Stormont Castle it emerged they intend to refloat their proposals despite the Grand Lodge rejection.
Encouraging talks involving what he terms “negative elements” at local community level, Mr Robinson warned: “As a society we have begun to get careless about how hard-won the peace was. People need to recognise that daily.”
Having watched the annual Orange event in Rossknowlagh at the weekend, Mr Robinson said he wondered how such days could be enjoyed in the Republic but not on some streets in Northern Ireland.
And warning of repercussions from recent images of violence beamed across the world, the DUP leader said: “It’s damaging to Northern Ireland’s reputation.
“Many involved in the rioting intend to destroy the work we’re involved in; others are being manipulated by those same people.”
Mr McGuinness echoed the sentiments, adding: “All of those who think it is a good idea not to talk need to get real and recognise the sort of headlines we are receiving.”
