The new Parades Commission, which will deal with marches in the North, held its first session in Belfast yesterday. It plans to meet politicians, church and community leaders over the coming weeks. It will also contact groups involved in the mediation process. The chairman, the former trade unionist, Mr Alastair Graham, was encouraged by the positive response to initial approaches.
Commission members were not planning to stay in their offices and would be out on the ground as the marching season got under way, he said. "We are embarked on a steep learning curve in order to be able to make practical contributions over the next month."
He said they needed to have full understanding of areas where progress had been made. The Orange Order has questioned the appointment of an SDLP member, Ms Berna McIvor to the new body. She has been election agent for the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, for over 25 years. Mr Hume yesterday defended her appointment, saying she was a respected independent minded person.