“It will be made up by 3 MLAs from the DUP and 3 from Sinn Fein.”
According to BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport’s blog
Tonight we are expecting the announcement of the 6 strong parades working group. It will be made up by 3 MLAs from the DUP and 3 from Sinn Fein. I haven’t yet got all the names but I wouldn’t be surprised if Gerry Kelly and Nelson McCausland are members.
Which would make that “co-chaired working group” more obviously a continuation in negotiations after the fact… They have until the end of February to report back on their “agreed outcomes”. [Or the bunny gets it? - Ed] The 9 March vote on devolving justice powers, probably. Adds The BBC confirms, “The office of the first and deputy first minister have confirmed who will be on a working group to examine the issue of parading. Junior Ministers Gerry Kelly and Jeffrey Donaldson will be joined by Stephen Moutray, Nelson McCausland, Michelle Gildernew and John O’Dowd.” No doubt they all have the required “experience of dealing with parading issues..”?
CC [25] I know about the ironies of the battle of the Boyne and that it wasn’t as cut and dried as some on the Orange side like to imagine, but I’d have to concede to your knowledge of the history of the period aside from the battle.
I just wonder how the ‘orange culture’ managed to sustain itself for the hundred years between the battle and the setting up of the Order in 1795, in the light of claims now that the very survival of Protestant hertiage in NI is at risk if parades were to fade out.
Hi ardmaj55,
Have to agree with your point. The same could also be said about Gaelic with respect to the ILA and does the GAA need to be taxpayer funded?
Personally, I think it’s better to promote our cultures rather than become some mundane English speaking western region. But it has to be both cultures. Or, even better, could we think of them as one? Parity of Esteem and all that…
CC I don’t agree with SF plan to put Gaelic up as a condition at Stormont, they were using the using the Irish Language for political ends. Some of them can barely speak it. No, I don’t think it needs to be publicly funded and the demand to have it so, is partly to blame for the absurdity of getting funding from Eu for that sub Ballymena accent masquerading as a language called ulster scots. You couldn’t make a lot of this stuff up if you were a member of the Monty Python team.
CC I don’t agree with SF plan to put Gaelic up as a condition at Stormont, they were using the Irish Language for political ends. Some of them can barely speak it. No, I don’t think it needs to be publicly funded and the demand to have it so, is partly to blame for the absurdity of getting funding from Eu for that sub Ballymena accent masquerading as a language called ulster scots. You couldn’t make a lot of this stuff up if you were a member of the Monty Python team.
Sorry about these repeat posts. This PC doesn’t always appear to send, and i find out only after wards when it has sent.