Durkan slams parades body review as 'unworkable'

SDLP leader Mark Durkan has slammed Sir George Quigley's review of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission as "ill-conceived and unworkable."

The review that was published on Thursday effectively recommended scrapping the Commission and replacing the single body with a facilitation agency supported by a rights panel.

In a statement Mr Durkan said: "I have read the recommendations of this report and believe that they are totally unacceptable, ill-conceived and unworkable"

"The Parades Commission has succeeded in greatly reducing tensions in our society over parades. As I said to George Quigley when I met him before he wrote his report, if it ain't broke – don't fix it."

The review's findings were also rejected by the Garvaghy Road Residents' Group coalition, a body who are opposed to the annual Orange Order march to Drumcree through their area in Portadown, County Armagh.

In an initial response, the Garvaghy Road residents' body said the review had failed in the task of increasing consensus around the marching issue and that Sir George had created the potential to re-ignite the issue in Portadown and elsewhere.

The review was called last year at the request of unionists, who complained that the commission was biased in favour of nationalists protesting against Orange marchers.

However, the Orange Order have welcomed the review, and said that while they were still considering its content they believed it was an important step in the right direction.

In the past the Orange Order has refused to work with or mediate through the Parades Commission, claiming they consistently took the path of least resistance.

A spokesman for the Order said: "This lengthy report simply vindicates the belief of the Orange Order that the Parades Commission was an ineffective and discredited organisation."

The Order added that during the consultation period, they would be participating fully with Sir George's review team.

The Parades Commission said it was important now to build on what had been achieved and to spread the benefits of engagement between parties, which, it said, clearly brought results.

"We will be drawing on our experience and understanding of the parading issues in responding to the government and encouraging others who perhaps have been reluctant in the past to make their voices heard," said commission chairman Tony Holland.

(AMcE)