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Allister hits out at parades report

DISAPPOINTING "in a great many areas" was how Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister described the Interim Consultative Report of the Strategic Review of Parading.

Although the report was published earlier this year it is now undergoing a process of consultation.

It features a host of recommendations, including more restrictions on bands, and the scrapping of the Parades Commission.

In an 18-page response on behalf of Traditional Unionist Voice, the MEP echoed many concerns expressed by the Loyal Orders last week and hit out at the political contents of the report.

"While there are undoubted positives in the report – including the proposed abolition of the Parades Commission and the desire to encourage professionalism in bands and the practical recommendations of the review to achieve this goal – there are many negatives," he said.

"The report's fundamental flaw is its failure to acknowledge the key role that militant republicanism played in manufacturing contention surrounding parades."

Mr Allister also said he believed it would be "ill-advised" to give the Office of First and Deputy First Minister a role as arbitrator when it comes to contentious parades.

He said: "These issues should be decided by DCAL in recognition of the cultural and historical importance of parades in Northern Ireland".

The TUV man went on: "I also take grave exception to the suggestion that the current system for dealing with parades can only be changed if and when policing and justice is devolved.

"This is a transparent attempt by the review to interfere in an issue which has no relevance whatsoever to its remit.

"Unionists who oppose any role for a convicted terrorist in the appointment of Northern Ireland's senior judiciary cannot support any review which does this.

"In a similar vain, the review links its recommendations to the suggestion that Northern Ireland should have its own Bill of Rights.

"I strongly oppose this entirely artificial link and, again, view it as unwarranted interference in the political affairs of Northern Ireland on the part of the review, and would echo the Loyal Orders' point that legislation required to give effect to the final recommendations should not be dependent on other political issues."

 
 
 

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