DUP comdemn use of replica guns at SF parade

Stormont Assembly members were today urged to back a motion deploring the display of replica weapons at a Sinn Féin-sponsored parade in Belfast highlighting collusion between the security forces and loyalist terror groups.

Democratic Unionist MP Sammy Wilson is one of four MLAs who have tabled a motion condemning the march past Belfast City Hall last month which featured people dressed as paramilitaries and bands named after IRA members.

A similar motion was passed on Belfast City Council earlier this month despite Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey claiming marchers dressed as paramilitaries were not depicting IRA members but a number of combatants during the Troubles.

Mr Wilson demanded ahead of today's debate on the police and the Parades Commission that such a display never happened again.

"Our motion is designed to draw people's attention to the hypocrisy of Sinn Féin who complain about the display of paramilitary flags during marches by the Orange Order," the East Antrim MP said.

"Yet here we had a situation where people marched dressed up as terrorists carrying imitation weapons and banging drums celebrating IRA terrorists.

"What is as staggering is the police and Parades Commission response. They would not have tolerated such a display by the Orange Order. They cannot afford to be complacent about this type of march in the future."

Stormont Environment Minister Arlene Foster will also face calls in the Assembly today from the Green Party's Brian Wilson and cross-community Alliance Party leader David Ford for the setting up of an independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

With the minister expected to reach a decision before Christmas, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds urged MLAs to support the motion.

The society's director in the North Aidan Lonergan argued: "Northern Ireland remains the only region on these islands which does not have an EPA.

"It is essential that our local politicians make the right decisions regarding our environment. They have been presented with an unprecedented opportunity to reverse the legacy of environmental neglect and apathy.

"RSPB NI will be working hard in the time ahead to ensure that this opportunity is not squandered or put on the long finger. The 100,000 strong membership of Northern Ireland's environmental organisations and indeed the wider public want to see the Assembly take decisive action to protect our wildlife and fantastic natural environment."

Assembly members are expected to debate a Sinn Féin motion calling on First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and their officials to confirm their commitment to eradicate child poverty in the North by 2020.