Parades commission must survive justice devolution, says SDLP

THE SDLP has warned that the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Executive must not involve a trade-off resulting in the abolition of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission.

SDLP Assembly member Alex Attwood expressed concern yesterday that to facilitate the transfer of justice powers to the Northern Executive the DUP would demand from Sinn Féin the scrapping of the parades commission and general dilution of the Belfast Agreement.

The SDLP pointed to last year’s interim proposals by the review team led by former British Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown that include the abolition of the commission with powers relating to contentious parades transferring to the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

Lord Ashdown’s review body is nearing completion of its finalised proposals.

Mr Attwood, at the launch of a party paper, Management of Disputed Parades Now and in the Future, opposing any such abolition, said that many people were concerned about the price the “DUP will exact for the devolution of justice”.

“The SDLP believes the price will be high and include the abolition of the parades commission to be replaced by the flawed proposals of Lord Ashdown. This is not the way to go. The SDLP will campaign for this not to happen,” he said.

The SDLP paper said that the Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward had given a “warm embrace” to the Ashdown interim proposals, conveying the impression that the British government would do “whatever it takes” to get the DUP to accept the transfer of policing powers.

Other prices to be paid, according to Mr Attwood, could include the undermining of the North-South element of the Belfast Agreement, a rejection of the proposed Bill of rights for Northern Ireland, the “undoing” of the human rights and equality commissions, and a general “unpicking of the Good Friday agreement”.

“This document warns everybody against devolution of justice on DUP terms. Peter Robinson will want a high price for the devolution of justice. The SDLP believes the Secretary of State is willing to pay that price,” he added.

“Over the next four months we will be campaigning with the Irish Government on parading, human rights and equality. The Irish Government are on the same page as the SDLP. We’re asking Sinn Féin to get to that same page also,” said Mr Attwood.

Mr Attwood added that the rioting in Ardoyne in north Belfast on July 13th demonstrated the need for an immediate, measured, political and community response to the problem of contentious parades.

“There is a need to stabilise issues around parading to ensure disputes neither escalate nor are subject to the destructive ambitions of small elements,” he said.

SDLP policing board member and MLA Dolores Kelly, also speaking at the launch, said the resolution of parading must be through the improvement of overall community relations rather than using parading as a stand-alone issue.

Sinn Féin, however, accused the SDLP of struggling to make itself relevant in the debate and said its latest comments took the focus off the Orange Order.

“When the issue of contentious parades is stripped back to its core it is an issue which, like so many within the broader peace process, can and will be resolved through dialogue and courageous leadership,” said Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd.

“The onus is on the Orange Order to deal with these genuine and deeply-felt concerns,” he added.

DUP First Minister Peter Robinson said there would be no devolution of policing and justice powers until “all parties at Stormont are content”.

His party was about to engage in wide-ranging consultation on the issue, he said yesterday evening.

Mr Robinson added: “Bringing policing and justice powers under the control of Stormont is something all unionists should desire, in the right circumstances. The timing must be absolutely right. Just because republicans have got themselves on the hook of requiring these powers and dress it up in language to appease their republican base, that should not blind unionists to the symbolic and strategic value they offer us in an increasingly stable Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom.”