Orange Order rejects parade proposals
THE Orange Order has rejected new proposals to deal with contentious parades.
Senior brethren met to discuss the issue on Tuesday evening.
In a statement, released on Wednesday afternoon, the Order said: "A special meeting of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland was held in County Tyrone on July 6, 2010.
"By a majority vote of those present, Grand Lodge decided not to accept the draft parades legislation in its present form as the way forward.
"Grand Lodge officers will meet in the near future to discuss the issue and also the code of conduct which is out for consultation until September."
The Order's rejection of the proposals comes after First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness unveiled plans for a new system to replace the current Parades Commission in April.
The parades blueprint, including a new focus on encouraging dialogue, were drawn-up under the terms of the Hillsborough Castle Agreement brokered to stabilise the power-sharing government at Stormont.
Under the proposals, the existing Parades Commission would be replaced by two groups, one to administer parade applications or objections and to facilitate talks, while a second adjudicating body will make rulings where agreement cannot be found.
While no leading Orange Order figures are available for interview, Tom Haire, County Grand Master for Belfast expressed surprise at the decision.
"I thought there may have been some kind of accomodation with a number of reservations," he told the BBC.
The proposals, subjected to a 12-week public consultation, were drawn-up by a working group made up of DUP and Sinn Fein representatives.
The original plan proposed new legislation aimed at avoiding conflict over marches. It was hoped the new legislation would come into effect next year.
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Monday 28 May 2012
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