The chairman of the North's Parades Commission has said he believes the Orange Order will eventually enter into discussions with it.
The commission issued its annual report yesterday. In comments aimed at addressing Orange Order concerns about the banning of marches, it said it saw a future for parades and would do "all in its power to secure the future of the parading tradition in this society".
The commission chairman, Mr Tony Holland, said he was optimistic the Orange Order would eventually change its policy of refusing to recognise the commission and enter discussion with it and residents.
The commission last night failed to reach a decision on a review of its re-routing of a contentious Orange march in west Belfast tomorrow. The commission said it would make known its deliberation on the Whiterock parade this morning.
On Monday the Commission will make its ruling on this year's Drumcree Parade in Portadown, Co Armagh, the following Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Northern Secretary has said he believes republicans will engage in decommissioning.
Speaking on the Marian Finucane programme on RTE Radio One yesterday, Dr John Reid said there was pressure on republicans from all parties, North and South, to decommission.
"There is unanimous agreement right across the spectrum in southern Ireland, from the Taoiseach, from the opposition parties, in Northern Ireland, every other party is now saying, `we need movement on paramilitary weapons', " he said.
Dr Reid said: "If you define decommissioning as the putting of weapons beyond use, I believe that that can be done . . . I actually think it will be done."