McAleese’s husband to meet Orange leaders in Dublin

Representatives of the Orange Order are due to hold talks in Dublin today with the husband of President Mary McAleese.

The delegation will be led by the order's Grand Master, Robert Saulters.

The talks, which will focus on the interests of Orange Order members in the Republic, are part of efforts to ease tensions ahead of the annual loyalist marching season north of the border.

Yesterday, the Orange Order met SDLP politicians for the first time, but it said afterwards that it would not be ending its controversial policy of refusing to speak to nationalist residents groups.

It also refused to end its boycott of the Parades Commission.