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Thursday, 29 October 2009

Policing preconditions 'unacceptable' - Adams

The Sinn Fein President has branded as "totally and absolutely unacceptable" any attempts by the DUP to attach the parades issue as a precondition to policing devolution.

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Gerry Adams has called on the Orange Order to engage in dialogue with local residents to resolve the small number of remaining contentious parades.

It comes after First Minister Peter Robinson told MPs of the "political imperative" to resolve issues of parading in Northern Ireland before policing and justice powers were devolved, during a DUP-led debate in the Commons on Tuesday night.

Mr Robinson also called for the abolition of the Parades Commission, which is responsible for placing restrictions on parades that it deems contentious.

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

On Thursday, Mr Adams said: "The Orange Order and Orangeism is part of who we are as a nation.

'Dialogue'

"Irish republicans want a dialogue with the loyal institutions in order that we can understand and appreciate each other's position."

Sinn Fein and the DUP have met to discuss the comments made by Mr Robinson at Westminster, which prompted angry responses from republicans.

Mr Adams has said the parades issue cannot now be mixed up with the policing and justice debate.

"Has the deal been done? Yes.

"It was led by Martin McGuinness, but it involved the First Minister Peter Robinson - and Peter Robinson has signed on for that. This is an issue which is distinctly separate and which will not be resolved as a precondition - it's totally and absolutely unacceptable."

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3 Comments

At 12:07 on 02 November 2009, lorna wrote:

Egger May I say first the Orangemen who walk are not clowns . They have every right as free men in this country to walk. Its this right that is under valued by the very people who claimed to be second class citizens. We hear so much equality preached now but until the right to march is given back to the people then we are still in a bad state in this country. Where does all the money go that has been given to communities in order to teach the young to respect another's religion. I see more control given to SF and no one would call them bigots but they fail to show leadership to our young

At 12:31 on 30 October 2009, lorna wrote:

Eggie. They are not clowns they are your neighbours, the people who share this country and are only acting out culture. In order to show they are genuine in their approach they should allow parades to continue otherwise their words mean nothing and the divide will continue.

At 13:20 on 29 October 2009, EGGER BURNS wrote:

Why do these clowns want to march were people don`t want them, the only reason is 2 antagonise the people, think of the money that cud be put 2 better use that the p.s.n.i cud save.