Fifteen Ulster Unionist members of the Northern Ireland Assembly,
nine of them Orangemen, have voted against a D.U.P. motion
urging First Minister David Trimble and his S.D.L.P. deputy
Seamus Mallon to take appropriate steps to appoint a representative
of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland to the new Civic Forum
at Stormont.
The Ulster Unionists lined up with Sinn Fein-I.R.A., S.D.L.P.,
and Alliance Assembly members on October 24 to reject the
motion by a 52-21 margin, after being led into the voting
lobbies by U.U.P. leader David Trimble, and his party ministerial
colleague Sir Reg Empey.
The motion was supported by 13 D.U.P., four U.U.P., three
United Unionists and one Independent Unionist. Other Unionists
from the various parties, including the U.U.P., who were unavoidably
absent from the chamber indicated they would have backed the
motion had they been present.
However, there was a deep sense of shock and sadness that
as many as 15 Ulster Unionists were prepared to indicate very
clearly that there is no place for the Orange Institution
on the new Civic Forum.
The Orangemen who rejected the motion were: David Trimble,
Sir Reg Empey, Billy Armstrong, Dr. Ian Adamson, Billy Bell,
Ivan Davis, George Savage, Duncan Shipley-Dalton and Jim Wilson.
Six other U.U.P. members, who do not hold Orange membership,
took a similar line - Dermot Nesbitt, Joan Carson, Esmond
Birnie, David McClarty, James Leslie and Alan McFarland.
Unionists who voted for the motion were: Ken Robinson, Peter
Weir, Derrick Hussey and Roy Beggs Jun. (U.U.P.), Nigel Dodds,
Paul Berry, Gregory Campbell, Wilson Clyde, Jim Shannon, Mark
Robinson, Edwin Poots, William Hay, Oliver Gibson, David Hilditch,
Mervyn Carrick, Maurice Morrow and Jim Wells, (D.U.P.), Denis
Watson, Boyd Douglas, Fraser Agnew, (United Unionist) and
Roger Hutchinson (Independent Unionist).
In the course of the debate, the Orange Order came under
fierce and vicious attack from nationalists and Sinn Fein/I.R.A.
in particular. One after another they lined up to blacken
and smear the reputation and standards of the Institution
and its membership.
D.U.P. minister and Belfast Orangeman Nigel Dodds, who proposed
the motion said, "This political process is supposed
to be about 'inclusive democracy'. Yet, whilst Tony Blair
acknowledges the contribution the Grand Orange Lodge makes
to Northern Ireland, the First Minister has snubbed the Institution
and specifically Grand Lodge by refusing to appoint a representative
of Grand Lodge to the Forum."
Mr. Dodds, in a reasoned and incisive speech, added, "The
largest Protestant organisation in Northern Ireland is omitted
while an ex-terrorist who tries to stop the loyal orders parading
in the Maiden City of Londonderry is appointed. The insult
to the Orange Order is unforgivable and should be corrected
forthwith."
In a strong defence of the Orange case, United Unionist Frazer
Agnew pointed out that the Belfast Agreement had created a
situation whereby terrorists, thugs, murderers, gangsters
and drug-dealers could serve in the Government of Northern
Ireland and he was not about to accept criticism of the Orange
Order from apologists for that position.
Mr. Agnew lambasted, "We have today listened to a vicious,
sectarian attack on the Protestant community. To attack the
Orange Order is to attack the Protestant community."
Denis Watson, United Unionist and Orange Grand Secretary,
in outlining the Institution's position, informed the Assembly
that a letter had been received that morning from Downing
Street confirming that the Prime Minister acknowledged the
contribution the Grand Lodge makes to Northern Ireland society.
"The Order should have the right to speak; it is owed
the right to reply; it deserves the chance to have its voice
heard - and apparently the place to do it is in the Civic
Forum."
"The implications of Orangemen voting with Sinn Fein/I.R.A.
to exclude the Orange Order from its rightful and just position
in the Civic Forum will have profound repercussions within
the Unionist community." said Denis Watson.
"A great disservice has been done to the Orange Order
as an Institution and the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland in
particular, and futhermore, this slight against the Order
will not easily be forgotten by the membership."
From the outset the Orange Order has remained constant in
its stated opinion from day one. While in opposition to the
Belfast Agreement, the Order still stipulated its views on
the governance of Northern Ireland. Indeed, the July 12, resolution
of 1998 stated, "We must all do what we can to help make
this country well governed, fair, just, peaceful and prosperous.
Positive participation in the Assembly will ensure that the
full strength of Unionist is concentrated in every debate,
discussion and decision taken at Stormont."
And again, in the Orange Standard of July 1998 the editorial
comment read: "The situation being as it is, it is imperative
that every effort be made to make the assembly work to the
advantage of all the people, that we get good government,
fair and just treatment for everyone, regardless of class,
creed or race in what is becoming a multi-racial society."
Denis Watson said it was ironic as it is disappointing to
note that in the Northern Ireland Assembly on September 25,
Deputy First Minister, Seamus Mallon, told Assembly members
that, "it is in keeping with the new era in which we
are now operating that through the Forum and the other institutions
of the Good Friday Agreement we embrace these progressive
and positive developments in inclusive democracy."
"Inclusive democracy - when it seems as if more by design
than by accident the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has no
representation on this Forum whatsoever?"
"Clearly, no account has been taken of the fact that
the Orange Order is the largest organisation in Northern Ireland,
and certainly encompasses all shades of Unionism."
Denis Watson said that at least two members of Grand Lodge
applied for positions on the Civic Forum and were unsuccessful.
"While there are appointees who are indeed members of
the Order and we congratulate them on their appointment and
wish to reinforce, they are not there to represent the Grand
Orange Lodge of Ireland or its membership."
"It is widely acknowledged, even by those in opposition
to the Order, that it is the largest social provider in the
Protestant community. Many community audits are the proof
of this, clearly showing how important Orange halls are to
the life of a community, often forming the heart of it. Community
audits can recognise this, but the First Minister cannot -
or did not. And so, this social provider, the largest of its
kind, is ignored and shunned."
"The Orange Order has been subject to the worst kind
of black propaganda, which is only equalled by the vilification
of the R.U.C. This political process has attempted to make
the Orange Order and its members distasteful to the wider
public. Our Institution has been reviled and maligned by nothing
other than misinformation and misrepresentation by those who
know nothing about its make up or principles, and worse still,
by those who do. The Orange Order should have the right to
speak - it is owed the right to reply, it deserves the chance
to have its voice heard and apparently the place to do it
is the Civic Forum."
"There is a great sense of injustice at the Order's
omission from this Forum. Not least because of assurances
given to the Grand Lodge Officers by the Prime Minister himself."
The Belfast Agreement, in paragraph 34 of Strand 1, states
that the Forum will act as a consultative mechanism on social,
enconomic and cultural issues. The Orange Order has much to
provide in this field of debate, since it provides much in
this field already by way of service to the community. The
Institution is already renowned for its work. It merits representation
not only because of its sheer volume of numbers, but also
due to its social provision, promotion and nurture of the
Protestant culture and heritage. It is unforgivable that any
organisation with such standing in its own community and such
influence in society as a whole should be ignored."
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