VIDEO: Order 'may meet' with Sinn Fein
THE Orange Order could meet with Sinn Fein representatives in the future, the Grand Master of the institution has said.
In an in-depth interview with the News Letter website, Robert Saulters reiterated his view that he could "never say never" to such a proposition.
Although discussions on the issue of contentious parades would not be on the agenda, the Orange chief believes, following the lead given by unionist politicians, that some day the Order "may have to" meet republican elected representatives.
Speaking at his Co Antrim home, Mr Saulters said: "We have seen how politics has worked in the past and I know some of our members don't like me saying that, but we've heard too much of this 'never' stuff and it comes to pass that they do meet.
"When you have ministers, in education and agriculture, some of our members may ask us to query something and we may have to meet the minister to discuss it."
The Grand Master said that the institution has never met Sinn Fein in a formal capacity up until now.
Relations between both parties were further strained following comments by Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness last month, accusing the Order of "sectarian provocation".
Responding to the leading republican's speech in Bodenstown, Mr Saulters said: "There is nothing sectarian about our parades at all.
"We always go out for an enjoyable day and they (Sinn Fein) seem to think we are concerned about nothing but the Roman Catholic population as bad people – we aren't.
"We enjoyed their company in years gone by, coming out to watch and to cheer. I had neighbours who did it for years. I can't see anything sectarian about them (the parades) quite frankly."
Asked as to whether the institution could ever convince Mr McGuinness of its right to march the Queen's highway, the Grand Master bluntly replied: "I don't think we'll ever convince that ilk to anything that is Orangeism or Protestantism."
Condemning republican violence at the recent Tour of the North and Whiterock parades in Belfast, Mr Saulters believes the threat by Martin McGuinness to remove stewarding at such flashpoints will have little impact.
"We heard the speech of the Deputy First Minister where Sinn Fein weren't going to patrol these parades but we haven't seen any difference.
"When they were patrolling them there was trouble anyway. There hasn't been any change at all."
Mr Saulters says the Order will never consider re-routing any such contentious parades to appease republicans.
"These are old, traditional parades and in the case of Whiterock there is no place they can re-route. If they did it would be up one road and down the same road. This way they have a circular tour and that has been going on for 60 years."
Mr Saulters believes local residents are not "creating the trouble" but that republicans "are coming in from far and wide to be upset by an Orange parade".
He added: "We knew from 1995 that republicans were bussing people in from as far away as Coalisland and Dungannon to the Ormeau Road.
THIS year's Twelfth will be an unconventional one for the Orange Order's Grand Master.
Due to a freak accident last month, resulting in a badly-torn achilles tendon, Mr Saulters has been recuperating at home.
After sustaining the injury while rushing to his weekly church service, the senior Orangeman has had to adjust to life on a pair of crutches over recent days.
Taking a less high-profile role at Orange events in the build-up to the biggest day of the parading season, Mr Saulters hopes to make his first public appearance at the annual Rossnowlagh gathering next Saturday.
Despite the setback, the Grand Master will be attending the Twelfth celebrations in Ballymoney and he hopes to take an active role.
Medical professionals may provide him with a specially-adapted walking boot next week, depending on the healing process.
"I am hoping to participate in some way," he said.
"I have been told they have a seat for me on a horse-drawn carriage though I prefer to walk to tell you the truth, but we'll see what the boot is like."
If Mr Saulters is unable to march with fellow brethren, it would be the first Twelfth he has not walked at since he was 12-years-old, he said.
The Kells man is hopeful his foot will have made a full recovery by early August.
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Monday 13 February 2012
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