Three unionist MPs and a Conservative MP, Mr Andrew Hunter, have dissented from a British parliamentary committee's recommendation that new RUC recruits should be banned from joining organisations such as the Orange Order or the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Mr Hunter and Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, who are both members of the Orange Order, also rejected the view of some fellow members of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that RUC officers should not be members of the order because it was anti-Catholic.
Mr Hunter, Mr Donaldson, Mr Roy Beggs of the Ulster Unionist Party and Mr Peter Robinson of the DUP also dissented from the committee's recommendation that the British Union flag should not be flown over RUC stations on July 12th.
The remaining members of the 13-member committee, which is chaired by former Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Brooke, endorsed the recommendation that new RUC recruits should be barred from joining the loyal orders, the AOH, or "other groups who generally prohibit membership on religious grounds".
The committee formally launched its widely leaked report on the composition, recruitment and training of the RUC at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, yesterday. The recommendation on membership of such orders applies only to recruits and not to serving police officers, who might be in the loyal orders or - much more unlikely - in the AOH.
Mr Martin Salter, a Labour member of the committee, said membership of the Orange Order and the RUC could not be justified because men joining the order must sign a declaration that they will "strenuously oppose the fatal errors and doctrines of the Church of Rome".
The Orange oath declaring such opposition to Catholicism was incompatible with membership of the RUC, which must serve all of the community, including the Catholic population, he said.
However, Mr Donaldson said the declaration had no bearing on the impartiality of the RUC. Signing the declaration could not be equated with endorsing discrimination against Catholics. The force had already shown itself to be impartial and this was illustrated at Drumcree.
"If people are going to allege bias it is incumbent upon them to come up with evidence," he added.
He opposed any prohibition on recruits joining either the Orange Order or the AOH. "When we are trying to create a much more inclusive society, it is a retrograde step to exclude a significant proportion of people who are linked to the Orange Order or the Ancient Order of Hibernians." Mr Hunter said he also opposed the view that it was incompatible that an RUC officer could be a member of a body which was dedicated to opposing Catholicism. If serving officers could remain as members of the Orange Order there was no reason why recruits should be prohibited from membership, he said.
Mr Donaldson and the DUP deputy leader, Mr Robinson, also argued that the proposal would be contrary to the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 and fair employment law.
Mr Eddie McGrady, an SDLP member of the committee, said while the proposal could be viewed as an infringement of civil rights, it was nonetheless a necessary infringement to help create the perception of an impartial force. There was little complaint when RUC officers were banned from joining trade unions.
Mr McGrady said he was concerned that there be a greater emphasis on redressing the religious imbalance in the force. At present only about 8 per cent of the RUC is Catholic.
In its report, the committee opposes positive discrimination in favour of Catholics, but says there should be action to encourage Catholics to apply to join the RUC.
The committee estimated that were future recruitment of Catholics to reflect the current Catholic population in Northern Ireland of about 40 per cent, it would take until 2027 for a proper religious balance in the force. The committee also opposed changing the name of the force.
Mr McGrady described the re commendation opposing a name change as inadequate. To be accepted, a police force had to be truly cross-community and be seen to be impartial. The religious imbalance also had to be addressed more seriously.
The RUC representative body, the Police Federation, gave a "general endorsement" to the recommendations. "We recognise it is important that perceptions are addressed in order that all members of the RUC are seen to be nothing other than totally professional and impartial when carrying out their duties," it said in a statement.
"We believe this has always been the case and our conduct at Drumcree again proved this without doubt. We look forward to future consultation on this important issue."
