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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Apr 1996

Vol. 464 No. 5

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Marches.

Mary Harney

Question:

28 Miss Harney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the proposal to establish an independent body to arbitrate on parade routes in Northern Ireland. [7547/96]

Mary Harney

Question:

46 Miss Harney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to ensure there will be no repetition of the rioting at hundreds of other marches planned in Northern Ireland between now and October 1996 in view of the events on the Lower Ormeau Road, Belfast on Easter Monday. [7546/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 46 together.

As I have informed the House on previous occasions, the Government believes that marches in Northern Ireland should be governed by the principle that they should not take place in an area, or along a route, where they are not welcome. This principle seeks to establish a respect for the right of local residents to object to what they judge to be insensitive and unwelcome parades. At the same time, it does not seek to impinge on the right of anyone to celebrate their identity and heritage by marching. Bearing this basic principle in mind, the Government hopes that agreement in advance can be reached by all sides in the small number of parades, a mere fraction of the thousands of parades which are held each year, which result in confrontation and, at times, violence.

This principle, and its implications for the routing of parades, has been raised consistently through the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. I have urged, and will continue to urge the British Government to consider steps, consistent with this principle, to avoid a repetition of the events last year. We believe that parades policy must reflect the wider political issues and it should not be considered merely a police matter to be handled one parade at a time, and in particular should not be decided as a function of who can mount the most significant threat to the peace at any given time.
Even within the limitations of current legislation, the Government holds the view — and has conveyed it to the British authorities — that more could be done by, for example, allowing greater time between the RUC decision on a parade route and the actual date of the proposed parade. I note that the decision on the proposed parade down the Lower Ormeau Road scheduled for 28 April next was announced by the RUC on Monday, 22 April last. I hope that this example of greater notice will become established practice. Such an interval can allow for further mediation efforts and dialogue. A further example is the power of the Secretary of State to ban a parade for a period of up to three months, a power that might be usefully employed in certain instances.
The suggestion, made by a number of people whose views command respect, of an independent tribunal to arbitrate on parades and parade routes is a welcome addition to this ongoing debate. The Government would support such a proposal but acknowledges that acceptability to the parties involved would be an essential condition for its success. To date, this proposal has not commanded sufficiently widespread support among those directly involved in the issue for us to say that it represents the solution to the problem. We would hope, however, that dialogue on this, and other sensible compromise formulas, can develop to the point of agreement, particularly in regard to the handful of parades that prove contentious. The Government will do everything possible to promote that end.
I assure the House that we will continue to monitor this situation closely on the ground. Our ongoing consultations with the British authorities over the coming weeks will continue and intensify as we move toward the flashpoints of the marching season.
We will continue to urge that, within the limitations of the current law regarding parades, the issues be handled with primary regard for the rights of local residents. If decisions on contentious parade routes are taken over the coming months on the basis of the principle I have outlined, this will make a significant contribution to the confidence building which is essential to the success of all-party negotiations.
At this early stage in the marching season, I urge those involved in organising parades to consider the implications of further confrontations, the attack they represent on respect for the law, the heightening of cross-community tensions and, not least, the effect on the peace process at a time when we are engaged in an historic endeavour to find a lasting political accommodation between the Nationalist and Unionist traditions. Restraint and responsible leadership in the coming months will add immeasurably to the store of goodwill and trust which fuels the search for a lasting political settlement.
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