10 November 2002

Parades Commission: controversy

Sir George Quigley's proposal to split the Parades Commission into two bodies to deal separately with adjudication and mediation is meeting with some opposition, primarily from nationalists who feel that the current body is working perfectly well. As Alex Attwood said before the publication of the proposals on Thursday, "Our position is that 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'."

Unionists have not been happy with the working of the current body, the second such set up to deal with contentious parades in Northern Ireland. Early indications are that they are happy with the proposed move. A changed dynamic holds out the promise of a reversal of previous outcomes, such as the banning of the controversial Garvaghy Road parade.

Quigley was prompted on Friday to qualify them in the Belfast Telegraph.

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