Order rules out parading talks with McGuinness
THE Orange Order has rejected an invitation from the deputy first minister to meet about proposed reforms to the regulation of parades.
Martin McGuinness made the offer in the assembly this week.
In September, the Orange Order snubbed a request from first minister Peter Robinson to reconsider its stance on parade reforms. Out of 100 members of Grand Lodge not one person could be found to second a motion in support of Mr Robinson’s plea.
The UUP vehemently denied claims that it had a hand in blocking the DUP-Sinn Fein proposals from within the order, for political reasons.
Some Orangemen expressed concerns that the DUP-Sinn Fein proposals could have resulted Sinn Fein members given an enhanced say in loyal order parades at ground level.
This week, Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott asked the first minister and deputy first minister to outline the process their department is following to progress the draft Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill, which it was hoped would replace the Parades Commission.
Martin McGuinness responded that a consultation was carried out on the bill, “an amended version of which was prepared to reflect the concerns expressed in the responses”.
Mr McGuinness said the DUP and Sinn Féin had tried to put in place processes that would put “dialogue and negotiation at the heart of any move forward” but that it was “particularly disappointing” that they did not receive support from some elements in the assembly.
He added: “In the time ahead, we must try to get everybody who is interested in a resolution — the Orange Order has a key role to play, as the Member well knows — to recognise the importance of stepping up to the plate in putting this legislation in place in a way that sees us move forward decisively and puts in place processes that will see — very importantly from my perspective — resolutions to what is now a tiny number of contentious situations.”
DUP MLA Stephen Moutray asked if the UUP made a submission to the consultation, and Mr McGuinness said they had not.
SDLP MLA Alban Maginness asked the deputy first minister to admit the legislation was “anti-democratic, dangerous and ill-drafted legislation is now dead” and that the role of the Parades Commission should be enhanced.
Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson then asked Mr McGuinness if he would welcome a meeting with the Orange Order to discuss the way forward.
Mr McGuinness responded that he would “very much welcome a meeting with the Orange Order, but that is a matter for the Orange Order”.
He added: “The Orange Order must decide for itself whether it wishes to play a part in trying to find resolutions to problems that have created huge difficulties for our communities, whether it be the people whom the Order represents or those affected by marches in any given year.”
An Orange Order spokesman said yesterday that the institution had “absolutely no plans to meet the deputy first minister”.
He added: “The current policy of Grand Lodge is to reject the parading proposals which came out of the Hillsborough Agreement.”
Mr Elliott yesterday said that his party did not make a submission because it was on a committee working on the legislation and it would not have been proper. His party intended to make their points as part of the committee process, he said.
The UUP leader called for the office of first and deputy first minister to publish its amended proposals, saying he suspected there would be common ground with the UUP.
“There were two folders of objections to the consultation, with comments from unions and vintage car associations, as well as the loyal orders,” he said, adding that he did not expect any progress on the matter until after the assembly elections next year.
