New appointment to under-threat Parades Commission

The Parades Commission in the North was back to full strength today just as the marching season approached.

UK Secretary of State Shaun Woodward announced the appointment of businesswoman Rena Shepherd as a new member of the commission.

The British government launched a search for a new member earlier this year after the House of Lords ruled that the appointment of two Portadown Orangemen by former Ulster Secretary Peter Hain was unlawful.

Mrs Shepherd's appointment could be short-lived - a team led by Lord Ashdown which reviewed the parading issue last month suggested scrapping the commission altogether.

Nevertheless, the commission will be needed to adjudicate on contentious parades this summer and Mr Woodward said Mrs Shepherd would be a welcome addition to the team.

"Rena is well qualified for the job and I am confident that she will make a valuable contribution to the work of the team.

"The Parades Commission continues its important work and remains the final arbiter in parades matters," he said.

Mr Woodward added: "All communities in Northern Ireland wish to see another peaceful parading season and all those involved in parading should work tirelessly towards that goal."

Mrs Shepherd started her career in Price Waterhouse and went on to lead major Change Management Projects in the publishing and postal sectors.

Since 2005 she has spent all of her spare time volunteering and working part-time providing training and support to businesses and the voluntary sector - with particular emphasis on diversity and disability awareness.

The Northern Ireland Office said Mrs Shepherd's term will run from May 19 to December 31 with remuneration of £19,000 (€23,824).

She currently holds a series of unpaid and voluntary posts: Bill of Rights Forum member, Ulster Orchestra Development board member, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce council member, Honorary patron International Society for Fighting Pain, Chairwoman of policy committee NICCI and Volunteer trainer at Arthritis Care.

The Law Lords ruled in January that Mr Hain's appointment of Orange Order members David Burrows and Don Mackay to the Parades Commission was unlawful as he had not sought representation from Catholic residents' groups in Portadown.

Mr Mackay had already quit by the time of the Lords' ruling, after a dispute over the referees he claimed backed his appointment but who said they knew nothing about it.

He was replaced by a member of the Green Party.

Last month Lord Ashdown produced a preliminary report which proposed scrapping the Parades Commission and giving local authorities responsibility for registering parades.

Contentious events, such as the annual Drumcree parade, would be resolved by arbitrators appointed by the Stormont Executive, under the Ashdown blueprint.