Abolish Parades Commission: Robinson

The continued existence of the Parades Commission would prove "corrosive and divisive" during the devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont, the First Minister has said.

Peter Robinson, leader of the Democratic Unionists, said the ruling body should be dissolved before further progress is made on the transfer of security matters to a local minister.

He said the abolition of the Commission would "increase confidence" in devolved institutions.

Speaking in Westminster, the First Minister said the current status quo did not resolve problems relating to parades, but rather add to them.

"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.

A parades review body, headed by former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown is expected to publish a full report soon.

Mr Robinson said he supported the work of the panel, but questioned the stalling over its findings.

He blamed Sinn Féin for seeking "to extract a political price to deliver that which has already been agreed".

Sinn Féin assemblyman John O'Dowd said the best way to resolve parades issues was by nationalists and the Orange Order holding face-to-face talks.

He said abolishing the Parades Commission would not solve ongoing problems.

"What Peter Robinson is saying that he wants to remove the Parades Commission and put in another adjudicating body, this will not resolve the parades issues, what will resolve it is discussions between the loyal orders and the nationalist and republican areas which are affected by those parades," he said.

Mr O'Dowd said the Ashdown panel's recommendation to devolve parades rulings to local politicians signaled a need for all such powers to be transferred to the Assembly.

However, the hardline Tradional Unionist Voice has said linking policing and justice matters with the disbandment of the Parades Commission "will not wash with members of the Loyal Orders".

Party Vice Chair and Orangeman Keith Harbinson said the Orders opposed Lord Ashdown's attempts to "create an entirely artificial" link between policing and justice and parading.

"There is grave unease within the membership of the Loyal Orders at the prospect of policing and justice being devolved to an inclusive executive where those who continue to justify the murder of policemen and judges hold sway," he said.

SDLP policing spokesperson Alex Attwood said Mr Robinson's "obstruction of devolution of policing and justice with the abolition of the Parades Commission has been facilitated by Sinn Féin".

Mr Attwood's party has sought to retain the Commission, despite he said, questions over its "poor decisions"

"Sinn Féin has their fingerprints all over Ashdown. Now the penny’s dropping. The Parades Commission is best practice and any other approach could see parading issues escalate again," he said.

According to Mr Attwood, Secretary of State Shaun Woodward wrote to the Assembly Review Committee last week stating Downing Street backed the Ashdown report, and will pay for it.

(PR/BMcc)