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The joint Loyal Orders Working Group met today with Archbishop
Sean Brady and other representatives of the Roman Catholic
Church as part of its ongoing dialogue to explain why it believes
the Parades Commission should be replaced by a more equitable
system for regulating public events.
The Loyal Orders delegation consisted of Robert Saulters
and Drew Nelson from the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, William
Logan and the Rev Tom Greer of the Royal Black Institution,
and George Dawson MLA and Mervyn Storey MLA from the Independent
Orange Institution.
A spokesman for the Joint Working Group described the meeting
as "a cordial, businesslike and useful exchange of views
held in an atmosphere of concern for the coming months which
all sides wish to see pass in an entirely peaceful manner."
"The Loyal Orders made clear that they believe the Parades
Commission has failed and should be replaced by a better system
of regulation of all events on the public highway", said
the spokesman.
"We recognise that there has to be regulation, but presently
this is focused on parades organised by the Loyal Orders -
and that, we believe, is biased and unfair. The Parades Commission
has, furthermore, shown itself to be a failed and increasingly
farcical body that must be replaced with a more equitable
arrangement that will seek to develop the widest possible
consensus from within the community."
Today's discussions in Armagh are the latest in a series
of meetings initiated by the Joint Loyal Orders Working Group
on the regulation of parades . In recent months the Group
has also held talks with Northern Ireland Secretary Peter
Hain, NIO Minister Paul Goggins, the Irish Republic's Department
of Foreign Affairs, Northern Ireland members of the House
of Lords, the Chief Constable, the Human Rights Commission,
the DUP, UUP, the Alliance Party and the SDLP. In addition
the group has met with senior representatives of the Church
of Ireland, the Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church.
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