Problems with Orange parades in Northern Ireland are reducing year after year, the Parades Commission said today.
Welcoming a generally peaceful summer marching season, the commission called for energy and commitment to be directed into local dialogue to resolve outstanding disputes such as Drumcree .
Parades Commission chairman Roger Poole
Chairman Roger Poole said in the run-up to July 12th, the commission had carefully considered more than 50 contentious parades.
Commissioners had attended parades across Northern Ireland last week and were "pleased that we have now come through another 12th July which was generally peaceful," he said.
Mr Poole added: "We recognise that tensions remain and there are unresolved issues in a number of specific areas, but these are being reduced year after year."
In contentious areas where local agreements were not secured, parades and protests were successfully managed in a way which ensured peace was maintained on the streets, he said.
That was vital, he said, adding the commission acknowledged the continuing efforts of politicians, community representatives, the PSNI and all involved in parading issues.
Mr Poole said: "We are now calling for the same commitment and energy to be applied to creating and maintaining meaningful and sustained processes of dialogue so that local accommodation can be reached where possible."
"It is our hope that such interventions from the Commission will become more and more unnecessary over time," he added.
PA