A REPORT by a special DUP-Sinn Féin committee on controversial parades is due to be completed and handed to the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister tonight.
The report by the six-member committee drawn from the two parties will contain agreed proposals on contentious marches. It is part of the timetabled process, agreed at Hillsborough earlier this month leading to the planned transfer of policing and justice powers to Stormont on April 12th.
However, tension between the two parties emerged in the Assembly yesterday when the DUP deputy leader reacted sharply to a speech made at the weekend by Martin McGuinness.
Nigel Dodds called on Sinn Féin to apologise over Mr McGuinness’s comments that the Orange Order should accept it could no longer march where nationalist residents did not want them.
This led to rumours at Stormont that worsening relations between Sinn Féin and the DUP could threaten the committee report and the Hillsborough Agreement.
However DUP and republican sources played this down last night. Sinn Féin said an agreed and on-time report was still “do-able”, while the DUP said its position was also unchanged.
The Irish Timeswas also told that a slight delay in producing a report would not necessarily mean the Hillsborough Agreement timetable was in jeopardy.
Mr McGuinness, speaking at an IRA commemoration in Co Tyrone at the weekend, said: “The Orange Order has to sit up and take notice that the world is changing . . . that not alone have the old days gone, but the days of the triumphalist Orange marches through areas where they are not wanted have to be consigned to the history books forever.”
He called on the loyal orders to “come forward, like men and women, and come into rooms, sit and talk to representatives of the nationalist/republican community in areas where they are seeking to march”.
However Mr Dodds hit back: “That sort of republican propaganda might play well with his hardcore supporters. But it will not instil community confidence throughout Northern Ireland on other important matters.”
Orange Order leaders, including Drew Nelson and Robert Saulters, were again at Stormont yesterday. The Orange Order met on Saturday and Grand Master Robert Saulters said members were uneasy: “Our membership have several issues of concern . . . and are in no position to make any judgment or form any opinion at this time.”