SIGNIFICANT STEPS towards a resolution of the 12-year Drumcree parade stand-off have been taken at Stormont.
First Minister Peter Robinson held ground-breaking talks with Breandan Mac Cionnaith of the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition and indicated afterwards that face-to-face talks between the residents and the Orange Order could take place soon.
Speaking at Stormont Castle, Mr Mac Cionnaith said: “This is the first occasion that representatives from our community have actually met with the senior figure from within the DUP at any stage over the last 14, 15 or 16 years.
“He appeared very open-minded to what we were saying, understood the concerns of our community as well.
“I think he demonstrated that he is not going to act as a proxy on behalf of the Orange Order.”
Orange district master Darryl Hewitt described his meeting with Mr Robinson as “positive”.
“We are very pleased that the First Minister has shown some impetus in this situation,” he said.
The appointment of a new chairwoman of the Parades Commission is seen as central to the fresh push for a resolution. On July 21st Rena Shepherd takes over at the body which rules on contentious parades and which has banned the return leg of the Drumcree parade for the past 12 years.
Mr Hewitt used his speech at the police barricade at Drumcree last Sunday to lambaste outgoing chairman Roger Poole. Ms Shepherd, who was present at Drumcree, had a brief conversation with the Orangemen which was seen as positive.
Mr Hewitt said yesterday: “[Mr Robinson] is going to seek an urgent meeting with the new chairman of the Parades Commission and we look for some feedback from her on that particular meeting.”
Mr Robinson said after his meetings with both sides: “I found that there is sufficient of an overlap in their positions to allow a meeting to take place between the two groups. I hope that can be arranged.
“I think both of them are prepared to sit down with the other. There are issues in relation to the agenda which I believe can be sorted out having heard the position of both of the groups and I think both would be content that the chair-designate of the Parades Commission would chair such discussions.”
He said he hoped to talk to Ms Shepherd soon. He also praised the willingness of the two sides to talk without preconditions.
“I found that both of the groups were prepared to meet on the basis where they would be able to articulate their view in relations to parades, parading and parade routes in Portadown and I believe that is the way forward,” he said.