Robinson’s ‘united community’ begins at home

The apology from First Minister Peter Robinson to the Muslim community in Ireland over his controversial remarks on Islam and Muslims was overdue but nonetheless comprehensive and welcome.

Mr Robinson said he “can’t spend the rest of his life apologising but what he can do is spend the rest of his life building a united community in Northern Ireland”.

As the first step in building that united community in the North can we take it that Mr Robinson will publicly disassociate himself from the offence caused to nationalists by the burnings of Irish Tricolours, papal flags and religious emblems associated with the Catholic faithful on Orange Order bonfires, the triumphalist Orange Order marches through areas where they are clearly unwelcome, and the disgusting behaviour of some loyalist bandsmen outside Catholic places of worship during July 12th parades?