Dinny McGinley
Question:145 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken to address the issue of parades in Northern Ireland by proscribed groups. [9960/03]
Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.
Parades in Northern Ireland by proscribed groups take two forms. Firstly, parades or public displays by proscribed organisations are illegal and, as such, are a matter for the security forces. Secondly, parades authorised by the Parades Commission have been marred on occasion by participants wearing paramilitary-style uniforms or displaying paramilitary-style flags and other trappings.
The conduct of all parades is a matter for the Parades Commission. Under the Public Procession (Northern Ireland) Act 1998, the commission is tasked with facilitating mediation between parties to particular disputed parades and, in the event of failure to reach agreement between the parties, to issue determinations in respect of proposed public processions.
In addition, under section 3 of that Act, the commission is required to issue a code providing guidance to persons organising a public procession or protest meeting. Clearly set out in the appendices to the commission's most recent code of conduct are the requirements that: no paramilitary-style clothing is to be worn at any time during a parade; no musical instrument will bear any inscription or mark of a proscribed organisation; and, in no circumstances should flags or other displays relating to a proscribed organisation be displayed.
In addition, participants should refrain from conduct, words, music or behaviour which could reasonably be perceived as intentionally sectarian, provocative, threatening, abusive, insulting or lewd.
In this context, the Parades Commission has noted that "bands generally set the tone for most parades and the Commission hears complaints about the behaviour of some bands whose anti-social treatment of their host communities gives great offence".
The Parades Commission makes clear that the organisers of any march or protest are to be held responsible for the behaviour of all participants and for ensuring compliance with the code of conduct. Compliance with this code is a factor which the commission takes into account in deciding whether to impose conditions or restrictions on a parade. For example, a number of determinations issued by the Parades Commission since its inception have included specifications that only certain bands may participate in the parades because of past unacceptable behaviour on the part of other bands.
Furthermore, the fourth annual report of the Parades Commission, April 2001 – March 2002, set out a number of parading principles . This includes a condemnation of those who use parades to further sectarian or bigoted political agendas.