Mr Seamus Mallon has warned that the remit of the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland must not be extended to include Gaelic culture, particularly GAA games. The SDLP deputy leader was responding yesterday to reports that the British government, following pressure from the Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, is to extend the role of the commission to include GAA games as well as Orange parades.
With legislation on the proposed commission expected to be published soon, Mr Mallon said the SDLP had raised its concerns about the reports "in no uncertain terms" with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam.
"It is a huge issue. To in any way equate sport with the offensive nature of sectarian marches just belies understanding, especially for those of us who have played that sport," said Mr Mallon, a former Armagh county player.
Nationalist communities found the proposal very offensive, Mr Mallon said. He did not accept that such a move by the British government would be a confidence-building measure for unionists.
"You don't build confidence by insulting people. And I certainly would find insulting any suggestion whatsoever that Gaelic sports bore any relation, in terms of the effect on the other community, that sectarian marches have within nationalist communities."
He did not accept that a lifting of the GAA rule banning British soldiers and RUC officers from playing Gaelic games would undermine the unionist argument that the GAA be included within the ambit of the commission.
Mr Mallon said he was opposed to the ban, but believed it was a "completely different issue" from an "arbitrary and artificial way trying to equate supporting, watching or playing GAA games with highly offensive coat-trailing marches which are inherently sectarian and meant to offend".
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, said at Stormont yesterday that there were no tensions between the two governments over the proposed legislation. He added, however, that "we are having ongoing discussions [with the British government] about an element of it."
Dr Mowlam said legislation would be in place by March. She made no comment about the role of the commission being extended to include GAA games.
