Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:13 Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has discussed the continuing siege of Garvaghy Road with the British Government. [5037/99]
Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Marching Season.
Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:18 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of parades sanctioned by the Parades Commission in Portadown for the period March 1998 to March 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8914/99]
Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:24 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the recent discussions with the British Government regarding the Garvaghy Road impasse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8994/99]
Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:31 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 23 March 1999 the number of people being prosecuted for participating in illegal parades in view of the fact that 36 illegal marches were held in the period March 1998 to March 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8915/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 18, 24 and 31 together.
The situation on the Garvaghy Road remains very serious. The Government has closely monitored events there since last July when the main stand-off by Orangemen at Drumcree ended as a result of the tragic deaths of the three young Quinn brothers. The maintenance of an Orange protest at Drumcree has sustained tensions between the Garvaghy Road residents and loyalist elements in Portadown. The Orangemen of Portadown, occasionally augmented by Orange delegations from other areas in Northern Ireland, have continually rallied and marched in support of the vigil at Drumcree church. These rallies and marches have been accompanied by a series of attacks by loyalist elements on the RUC and on the residents. An RUC officer has died as a result of injuries received in the course of these attacks. They have, moreover, contributed to an air of menace and tension on the Garvaghy Road.
Despite the tensions, the residents of the Garvaghy Road have continued to engage in the search for agreement and accommodation. While they have consistently called on the Orange Order to meet them in direct face-to-face talks, they have also accepted a series of proximity talks. The most recent of these occurred last December and ended without a resolution. However, arising from an assessment of the nature of these talks, the British Government proposed that an experienced mediator from Scotland, Mr. Frank Blair, explore with both sides how best to proceed. These discussions are currently ongoing.
Throughout all these talks and at virtually all their meetings with political leaders, the representatives of the Garvaghy Road were accompanied by Ms Rosemary Nelson. She acted as their legal advisor. Deeply humanitarian and fundamentally committed to the rule of law, Ms Nelson brought to the Garvaghy delegation both legal expertise and her own inimitable human qualities. Much has been said about her and her work, with all of which I strongly agree. She will be sadly missed by all the residents of the Garvaghy Road and in particular by their representatives with whom she worked so closely.
Her murder has added a new and emotional dimension to the issue of the Drumcree march. The suspicion among nationalists of collusion between loyalists and members of the security forces in her death, and also their concern about the Robert Hamill case, have exacerbated tensions. Despite this, we must continue to pursue actively such an accommodation. I have regularly discussed the situation on the Garvaghy Road with the Secretary of State and we have both recently reiterated our view that progress can only be made by a process of dialogue and local accommodation. The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister have also both been personally involved in encouraging this process. The Taoiseach met recently with Breandán McCionnaith and Joe Duffy to discuss the situation on the ground and to explore ways of moving forward.
Apart from ministerial-level meetings, the situation on the ground is regularly discussed between the Irish and British sides within the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. We have continually encouraged the British authorities to vigorously uphold the rule of law and to manage public order situations with the objective of minimising the impact on the Garvaghy Road community. It is absolutely vital that the rule of law, including the determinations of the Parades Commission, prevail and be seen to prevail on the Garvaghy Road in the months ahead.
We have raised, through the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, the question of the number of parades sanctioned by the Parades Commission and have been informed by the British authorities that the Parades Commission can neither sanction nor ban parades. It should be noted that the power to ban a parade resides with the Secretary of State. The Parades Commission can impose conditions and restrictions on the organisers of a parade, including re-routing. In this context, of the 128 parades notified to take place in Portadown from March 1998 to 26 March 1999, the commission imposed conditions on 48 of these parades, 38 of which related to the continuing weekly protests by the Portadown District LOL No. 1. Regarding the number of prosecutions resulting from participation in illegal parades, we understand that this information is currently being compiled on the British side and I will advise Deputy Keaveney on receipt of it.
I assure the house that the Government continue to monitor the situation in Portadown closely and maintain its contacts with those directly involved. As we approach the height of the marching season in July, these contacts will intensify, as will our discussions with the British Government. The Government remain committed to a resolution of this crucial – and at times tragic – issue, based on mutual respect, dialogue, agreement and the rule of law.