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11/07/2014
Villiers Considers Parades Inquiry
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers has said the government will "look carefully" at a call from unionist leaders to begin an inquiry into the current parading situation in north Belfast.
Many unionists and loyalists are angry at a Parades Commission decision not to allow a 12 July Orange Order parade to march through a predominantly nationalist area of north Belfast on its return route. The Commission ruled that the parade could march through the controversial section of the Crumlin Road on its outward route, however.
Unionists reacted strongly to the decision and collectively walked out of fresh talks at Stormont that had just begun in an effort to solve remaining contentious issues surrounding parading and flags in Northern Ireland.
"The combined unionist parties call upon the secretary of state to establish a time-bound commission of inquiry with the necessary legal powers and resources to examine the Crumlin Road parades impasse and the wider issues it represents," a collective statement said.
Ms Villiers replied: "The Government will want to look carefully at the proposal put forward by unionist leaders this morning. We have always made clear our willingness to consider all practical options to resolve the situation in north Belfast.
"I welcome the efforts being made to try to find a way forward. I am happy to meet unionist leaders to discuss their proposal as soon as possible."
(IT)
Many unionists and loyalists are angry at a Parades Commission decision not to allow a 12 July Orange Order parade to march through a predominantly nationalist area of north Belfast on its return route. The Commission ruled that the parade could march through the controversial section of the Crumlin Road on its outward route, however.
Unionists reacted strongly to the decision and collectively walked out of fresh talks at Stormont that had just begun in an effort to solve remaining contentious issues surrounding parading and flags in Northern Ireland.
"The combined unionist parties call upon the secretary of state to establish a time-bound commission of inquiry with the necessary legal powers and resources to examine the Crumlin Road parades impasse and the wider issues it represents," a collective statement said.
Ms Villiers replied: "The Government will want to look carefully at the proposal put forward by unionist leaders this morning. We have always made clear our willingness to consider all practical options to resolve the situation in north Belfast.
"I welcome the efforts being made to try to find a way forward. I am happy to meet unionist leaders to discuss their proposal as soon as possible."
(IT)
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