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Orangemen have lost what little confidence they had in the
Parades Commission, as far as its ability to deliver on the
Drumcree Orange parade.
The fact that former Portadown Orange district master David
Burrows had to withdraw from the Commission following the
House of Lords decision has been a factor.
But the most frustrating thing from the Orange point of
view has been the lack of decisive action on the part of the
Commission to pin down the Garvaghy Road residents group.
After last year there was talk of the residents having to
face up to facts and to accept that an Orange parade must
take place to Drumcree to help create an improved climate
in which talks could take place on the future as regards this
traditional parade.
But no, with Drumcree appearing on the horizon once again,
the Commission has not established a talks scenario even though
Portadown District has stated it is ready for talks, with
its officers prepared to sit down face to face with Brendan
McKenna and his lieutenants.
The Parades Commission is in danger of losing all credibility
on the Protestant side if it fails to deliver on this issue.
Obviously the residents are stalling for time, and hoping
that the issue will fade away.
This is not going to happen. The Drumcree church parade
is still a key issue for the Orange Order, and Portadown District
is still determined to complete its church parade along Garvaghy
Road.
If the issue is not resolved it will continue to cause great
resentment in the majority Protestant community, and will
send out a clear message that there is no respect or parity
of esteem for the Orange Order in Northern Ireland, from republicans.
Ironically, all this comes at a time when the Irish Government
is showing its willingness to accommodate the Orange tradition,
and to provide money to assist the Order in border counties
to witness for its cause.
The Parades Commission must get its act together, and very
quickly demonstrate that it will not allow the Garvaghy Road
residents group to stand in the way of a fair, and lasting
solution to the Drumcree parading issue.
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