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01/12/2005
Commission urged to make contentious parades a thing of the past
Secretary of State Peter Hain has challenged the new members of the Parades Commission to help make contentious parades a thing of the past.
The Secretary of State made his comments as he welcomed the appointment of Roger Poole, a former senior trade union negotiator, as the new chairman of the Parades Commission and his new team of Commissioners.
They are David Burrows, Dr Joe Hendron, Donald MacKay, Anne Monaghan, Vilma Patterson and Mrs Alison Scott-McKinley. All will take up their post in January.
The appointment of Mr Burrows and Mr McKay has caused stirrings amongst nationalist and republican politicians as a result of their connection to the Loyal Orders.
Mr Burrows was a district officer for Portadown LOL No.1 for over 10 years and was involved in Drumcree negotiations over the years.
Mr MacKay is a member of the Royal Black and Orange Institution (member of Portadown ex-servicemens Orange Lodge).
Mr Hain said: “These appointments bring a completely new dynamic to the Parades Commission. The membership represents the interests of all the people of Northern Ireland. They come from a variety of backgrounds, with a broad skills mix and, for the first time, a gender balance.
“I am particularly pleased that two people with personal experience and understanding of the Orange Order and the cultural importance of parades have been appointed to the Commission.”
Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey said the newly constituted Commission was clearly biased in terms of its make up.
"The new Parades Commission has no representative of a working class nationalist or republican community directly affected by the issue of sectarian parades," the South Belfast MLA said. "It has instead at least two members of the loyal orders and two members of the local policing DPPs.
"Given this bias in make up nationalists and republicans will be justifiably sceptical of this Commissions ability to reach impartial and fair determinations. Another point which needs to be clarified is the role of the SDLP in putting this new Commission together."
The other commission members are: Dr Joe Hendron: A GP for 40 years, Dr Hendron was an SDLP MP for West Belfast, from 1992-97; Anne Monaghan: A Community Relations Manager in the University of Ulster since 2001, she is now an Independent member for Belfast’s District Policing Partnership; Alison Scott-McKinley: Currently employed as Urban Area Development Officer in the Magherafelt area since 2004, she is formerly an independent member of Magherafelt District Policing Partnership.
(MB/SP)
The Secretary of State made his comments as he welcomed the appointment of Roger Poole, a former senior trade union negotiator, as the new chairman of the Parades Commission and his new team of Commissioners.
They are David Burrows, Dr Joe Hendron, Donald MacKay, Anne Monaghan, Vilma Patterson and Mrs Alison Scott-McKinley. All will take up their post in January.
The appointment of Mr Burrows and Mr McKay has caused stirrings amongst nationalist and republican politicians as a result of their connection to the Loyal Orders.
Mr Burrows was a district officer for Portadown LOL No.1 for over 10 years and was involved in Drumcree negotiations over the years.
Mr MacKay is a member of the Royal Black and Orange Institution (member of Portadown ex-servicemens Orange Lodge).
Mr Hain said: “These appointments bring a completely new dynamic to the Parades Commission. The membership represents the interests of all the people of Northern Ireland. They come from a variety of backgrounds, with a broad skills mix and, for the first time, a gender balance.
“I am particularly pleased that two people with personal experience and understanding of the Orange Order and the cultural importance of parades have been appointed to the Commission.”
Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey said the newly constituted Commission was clearly biased in terms of its make up.
"The new Parades Commission has no representative of a working class nationalist or republican community directly affected by the issue of sectarian parades," the South Belfast MLA said. "It has instead at least two members of the loyal orders and two members of the local policing DPPs.
"Given this bias in make up nationalists and republicans will be justifiably sceptical of this Commissions ability to reach impartial and fair determinations. Another point which needs to be clarified is the role of the SDLP in putting this new Commission together."
The other commission members are: Dr Joe Hendron: A GP for 40 years, Dr Hendron was an SDLP MP for West Belfast, from 1992-97; Anne Monaghan: A Community Relations Manager in the University of Ulster since 2001, she is now an Independent member for Belfast’s District Policing Partnership; Alison Scott-McKinley: Currently employed as Urban Area Development Officer in the Magherafelt area since 2004, she is formerly an independent member of Magherafelt District Policing Partnership.
(MB/SP)
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A meeting is to take place between Sinn Fein and the Parades Commission over a number of controversial Orange Order parades that are to take place in north Belfast on July 12. A delegation from the party is to meet the commission on Thursday morning with regard to parades along the Springfield Road and Crumlin Road planned for Friday.
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Parades Commission member quits Orange Order
A member of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission, whose membership of the Orange Order sparked court action earlier in the month, has resigned from the Order. David Burrows was a member of the Portadown Lodge which was at the centre of the decade-long Drumcree dispute.
Parades Commission member quits Orange Order
A member of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission, whose membership of the Orange Order sparked court action earlier in the month, has resigned from the Order. David Burrows was a member of the Portadown Lodge which was at the centre of the decade-long Drumcree dispute.
24 January 2011
Police 'Allowed Illegal Republican Parade'
Members of the leading loyal order are said to be frustrated over an illegal march in Co Armagh yesterday and news of 'zero' prosecutions or cautions for those participating in any such illegal parades. The Orange Order described this as a "major shift" in policy, which they said, is causing huge frustration among law-abiding Orangemen.
Police 'Allowed Illegal Republican Parade'
Members of the leading loyal order are said to be frustrated over an illegal march in Co Armagh yesterday and news of 'zero' prosecutions or cautions for those participating in any such illegal parades. The Orange Order described this as a "major shift" in policy, which they said, is causing huge frustration among law-abiding Orangemen.
19 May 2006
Parades Commission appointments "unlawful"
The High Court has today overturned the appointment of a prominent Orangeman onto the Parades Commission. A High Court judge quashed the appointment of Portadown Orange Order member, David Burrow, who was given the position in November last year.
Parades Commission appointments "unlawful"
The High Court has today overturned the appointment of a prominent Orangeman onto the Parades Commission. A High Court judge quashed the appointment of Portadown Orange Order member, David Burrow, who was given the position in November last year.
26 January 2011
Baggott Agrees Illegal Parading Meeting
There's to be a showdown over the way in which the PSNI has been allowing illegal republican parades to take place - while at the same time cracking down on Loyal Order events to make sure they follow the letter of the law under Parading legislation.
Baggott Agrees Illegal Parading Meeting
There's to be a showdown over the way in which the PSNI has been allowing illegal republican parades to take place - while at the same time cracking down on Loyal Order events to make sure they follow the letter of the law under Parading legislation.
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