THE Tanaiste expressed reservations about aspects of the North report on parades in Northern Ireland.

Mr Spring said that while the Government had welcomed the thrust of the report, he would share the concerns expressed that the determinations of the proposed commission might be overturned by the Secretary of State or, after reconsideration, by the commission itself.

The Chief Constable could also appeal before the parade took place and the senior officer on the ground might back operational decisions which ran contrary to the commission's determination.

"I think that is a weakness, and it is a matter we will be discussing with the British government. That would probably be the most substantial concern we would have relating to the report."

He said the Government would give the parades issue priority, starting with his meeting with the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, in London later in the evening.

The Fianna Fail spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Ray Burke, said the report contained some good recommendations, but the problem was that the British Government was going to sit on it.