Orange Order under pressure to talk to Parades Commission

The Orange Order faced new demands today to end its boycott on dealing with the Northern Parades Commission.

As the SDLP prepared to meet representatives of the Protestant loyal orders in Belfast, they were urged to begin dialogue in a bid to head off any new trouble during this year’s marching season.

Orangemen refused to meet the commission, which rules on controversial parades, claiming it has treated them unfairly.

But the SDLP’s Alex Attwood said: “It would be essential in order to resolve marching disputes and create a better environment that the Orange Order would end its boycott of the Parades Commission.

“If everybody works together, talks together and demonstrates respectful relations and works to recognise each other's cultures and traditions, the SDLP believes that good progress can be made this year to resolve marching disputes.”

The order is under intense pressure to get through this season peacefully after ferocious rioting erupted during one of its major parades in Belfast last year.

Although it has always attracted criticism from outsiders, it is also now facing condemnation from within its own ranks.

A new book by Presbyterian minister and Orangeman the Reverend Brian Kennaway has attacked those at the top of the Grand Lodge.

His assessment was rejected by the order, which stressed that it continues to play a constructive and positive role in the North's affairs.

But some of its senior members are today expected to be told that there is no alternative to talks with resident groups living on flashpoint routes.

Ahead of the meeting at Stormont Mr Attwood added: “The SDLP would encourage the loyal orders to acknowledge that it is genuine, sustained, face-to-face dialogue with local host communities and representative groups that is the single most important commitment required to resolve local marching disputes.

“We will encourage the loyal orders to go and go quickly in this direction.”