'Axe Parades Commission' - Robinson

Published Wednesday, 28 October 2009

First Minister Peter Robinson has called for the abolition of the Parades Commission, which is responsible for placing restrictions on parades that it deems contentious.

He has branded it "not a solution to problems but part of the problem itself".

The comments were made during a DUP-led debate in the Commons on Tuesday night, during which Mr Robinson told MPs of the "political imperative" to resolve issues of parading in Northern Ireland before policing and justice powers were devolved there.

"To leave these issues unresolved and to devolve powers of policing and justice would plant a seed at the heart of government in Northern Ireland which I believe would be corrosive and divisive and which ultimately could in fact be the straw that breaks the camel's back," he said.

"I urge people to seriously consider these matters to put them at the centre of debate, particularly in Northern Ireland."

Mr Robinson said that his goal was for parades in Northern Ireland to be dealt with as they would in any other part of the UK.

"As a unionist, I have absolutely no difficulty in stating categorically that a human rights framework is crucial to get us to that point in Northern Ireland," he said.

"No matter what role Sinn Fein had in the role of parading disputes, I contend that it is now in the interests as much as of Sinn Fein as of unionists to see a resolution found."

He strongly supported the work of former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown, who is heading a review into parading in Northern Ireland, but questioned the delay in the final report.

Mr Robinson said the delay was not the fault of Lord Ashdown but down to Sinn Fein seeking "to extract a political price to deliver that which has already been agreed".

Community agreement

Security Minister Paul Goggins said the Government was prepared to make changes to the way parades are managed when there was community agreement to do so.

"I recognise that concerns are deep-rooted and will not be resolved overnight. But if we do not find a solution, the potential for wider political, social and economic damage should not be underestimated," he told MPs.

SDLP spokesman Eddie McGrady said the Parades Commission had done some good work, pointing to the fact that this summer's marching season had seen little violence.

"If we are going to fix this thing that is failing," he said, "all communities want to know how you are going to do it as a betterment, not simply at the behest of one party's demand or justification for the devolution of policing and justice."

He also said there was "no automatic right" to march on the "Queen's highway" - arguing that permission was given and could be withdrawn.

DUP South Antrim MP William McCrea said the Parades Commission was too easily swayed by protesters stirring up trouble.

"As a body, whenever the objectors to a parade were showing muscle, as it were, they took the easy option."

Comments

3 Comments

liambo in west belfast wrote (938 days ago):

How about Axing yourself Peter your finished anyhow your not racist enough for the harcore.

John in Lurgan wrote (938 days ago):

Peter Robinson and his DUP cronies are an absolute joke calling for the abilition of the Parades Commission, any right thinking Nationalist or Republican will not be backing this, come next Summer the Orange Order and DUP would be forcing Loyalist marches down the Garvaghy Road in Portadown and all the other locations for contentious parades. Peter Robinson and the DUP surely know that this topic is a non-starter and that they are doing their best to rock the apple cart. I wonder would the DUP like an AOH Ancient Order of Hibernian march through East Belfast, I somehow doubt it. If this is still going to be an issue for years to come then all parades including St.Patrick's Day parades should be banned and no-one allowed to march, then we would have no-more of this nonsense.

Paul in Belfast wrote (938 days ago):

Why can the orange orders not simply take the upper hand and say OK get rid of the commission and we will parade where people want us? The only problem here is that they continue to rub Nationalists noses in the dirt by marching through Nationalists areas; common sense would tell you that this is going to cause trouble!!