Orange Order to meet with SDLP

The Orange Order is set to meet with representatives from the SDLP at Stormont today to enter into dialogue in an attempt to come up with a solution to prevent rioting in flashpoint areas over the marching season, after violence erupted between rival factions last year.

In the past, the Order have refused to meet with the parades commission, claiming that it treated them unfairly.

Commenting on today's meeting, the SDLP`s Alex Attwood said: "It would be essential in order to resolve marching disputes and create a better environment that the Orange Order would end its boycott of the Parades Commission.”

Mr Attwood said that if everybody works together, talks together and demonstrates respectful relations, recognising each others cultures and traditions, his party believes that good progress can be made this year to resolve marching disputes.

It is understood that the Order will be told that the only way to resolve the dispute is to hold talks with residents in flashpoint areas.

Mr Attwood added: "The SDLP would encourage the Loyal Orders to acknowledge that it is genuine, sustained, face-to-face dialogue with local host communities and representative groups that is the single most important commitment required to resolve local marching disputes.

"We will encourage the Loyal Orders to go and go quickly in this direction."

Commenting on today's meeting, Drew Nelson of the Orange Order said that he was committed to such meetings to explain to the wider community the importance of parading in his culture.

Mr Nelson said he hoped that today's discussions with the SDLP would not be a “one off” and he hoped that the meeting would lead to further contact.

He said "It is very important for the Orange Order to explain to the wider community, the importance of parading to our culture."

Alex Attwood also called on the Orange Order to end its boycott of the Parades Commission.

He said that that the Loyal Orders meeting with the SDLP would not “justify any significant shift by the Parades Commission around any disputed parades.”

Over the past number of years, the marching season has sparked off stand-off's and street violence due to contentious parades being prevented from passing through or close to sensitive areas by the parades commission.

It is understood that last year's contentious Whiterock parade ran up a bill of approximately £3 million in order to cover policing costs alone.

(EF/SP)