THE deputy Grand Master of the Orange Order, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, has accused the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of "damaging" the prospect of reaching an accommodation over the Drumcree parade by coming in "with their clodhoppers" and walking all over the situation.
Mr Donaldson was referring to comments made this week by Mr Ahern and Mr Burke that the parade should not be forced down the Garvaghy Road.
He said: "Their intervention this week was most unhelpful. These people came in from the Irish Government and hadn't really been involved in the situation. They weren't really aware of all the nuances and came in with their clodhoppers and really just walked all over the situation and increased tension at a time that was very, very critical indeed."
Mr Donaldson, speaking before entering the Northern Ireland Forum, said he believed the Order was continuing to work to try to move the situation at Drumcree forward, "and to bring about a situation where the parade could take place in a peaceful atmosphere".
Earlier the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, was severely criticised by the chairman of the parades committee at the Forum. Mr Cedric Wilson, who unveiled the committee's report on the parades question two weeks ago, said he was "greatly alarmed" that Dr Mowlam appeared to have ignored their request for a meeting.
"We are greatly disappointed and I wish to reprimand severely the Secretary of State, who seems to have time in abundance to meet residents' groups, but she did not have time to meet this committee of elected representatives," said Mr Wilson, of the UK Unionist Party
He said the report, which recommended upholding the right to peaceful assembly and procession be upheld, reflected the views of elected representatives.