THE ORANGE Order has rejected an appeal by Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to talk to nationalist residents in areas they parade in.
A spokesman for the Grand Lodge of Ireland said yesterday the organisation would not take part in any such dialogue, only saying “the current policy of the Grand Lodge of Ireland is not to meet with Sinn Féin”.
Mr McGuinness said if the order had a problem meeting with his party it could meet with him and Peter Robinson in their roles as Deputy First and First Ministers.
However, the spokesman said the Grand Lodge had established a new committee to examine the parades issue. Chaired by east Belfast district master Raymond Spiers, it will begin formal deliberations in September.