Vol. 474 No. 5
31 Mr. O'Malley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will press the British Government to legislate immediately for the establishment of a parades commission as recommended by the North report in order that the commission will be in place with statutory authority in time to make the necessary decisions before the commencement of the 1997 marching season. [3339/97]
35 Miss Harney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to make representations to the body established to review parades in Northern Ireland. [2172/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 35 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my reply to Priority Question No. 1. I would reiterate that the Government believes that the recommendations of the Independent Review of Parades and Marches are a serious attempt to create a viable mechanism for resolving the issue of contentious parades. Though there may be reservations on points of detail, the Government supports the broad thrust of its recommendations, particularly in so far as they seek to encourage greater mutual understanding, local agreement and a fair hearing of the merits of individual parades through wide consultation. In particular, the Government supports the core recommendation that an independent parades commission be established and that it determine, if necessary, the conditions which might be imposed on contentious parades and that this be backed up by the force of law.
The Government conveyed its views on the parades issue to the independent review. I assume that, having published its report, the task of the review has now been completed. Should it be engaged in further work on this issue, the Government will make known its views as and when appropriate.
In my statement on the publication of the North review I said that there are already ominous signs that the confrontational attitudes and the refusal of dialogue which caused the crisis last year are again coming to the fore. The response to the review's recommendations from some of those most directly involved reinforces my concern in this regard. Given the imminence of the marching season and the hardening of attitudes already evident, it is vital that the review's key recommendations, including a parades commission with a formal role in mediation and with the authority to determine whether and what conditions might apply to contentious parades, be implemented without delay.
I have already made clear my hope that the British Government and the parties at Westminster will give the issue of parades the political priority it deserves, and I will be discussing this issue with the Secretary of State, Sir Patrick Mayhew, when I meet him later today.
