PROPOSALS TO abolish the Parades Commission and to transfer powers relating to contested marches to the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) have been formally released for consultation.
A review team led by former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Paddy Ashdown said yesterday their plans would command greater public support and lead to greater normality.
The Parades Commission, which has ruled on contentious parades since 1997, is opposed by many unionists and the Orange Order.
Speaking in Belfast, Lord Ashdown said his team's interim proposals were an attempt to deal with the issue as in any stable democracy. The core proposal involves transferring the role of final arbitrator to OFMDFM and to human rights and conciliation experts appointed by them.
However, the plans have been criticised by nationalist residents' groups in the Ormeau Road area of Belfast and the Garvaghy Road near Drumcree, Co Armagh.
Garvaghy spokesman Brendan McKenna said: "We believe that a lot of the recommendations in this report have the potential to allow political manipulation and political interference to take place."
The SDLP said plans to abolish the existing arrangements which had helped create a calm marching season were "absolute madness". Dolores Kelly said current arrangements were "settled and working".
Unionists applauded the move. Upper Bann MP and Drumcree Orangeman David Simpson said that the "unelected quango" had created more problems than it solved and its demise would be welcomed by unionists. The Ulster Unionists' parades spokesman Michael Copeland concurred.
Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd said: "Experience teaches us that the resolution to the issue of contentious parades lies in dialogue between host communities and the loyal orders."
Dawn Purvis, leader of the UVF-linked Progressive Unionists, said: "Whatever the result of this report and subsequent consultation, it will require great effort and goodwill from all sides to find a workable long-term solution."
The Alliance Party said there was much to gain and little to fear in the proposals.
Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward said: "There has been extensive consultation to get to this point. It is important those with an interest continue to engage with the group."
Lord Ashdown's team has expressly omitted the Drumcree and Ormeau Road parades from its work to date. However, these so-called "legacy" cases will be considered and proposals dealing with them will be included in the team's final report due by late October.
It is envisaged that primary legislation would be required to be enacted at Westminster. However, this could be done by next spring in time for the 2009 marches
Roger Poole, chairman of the Parades Commission, welcomed the consultation process and the emphasis placed on local dialogue.