THE new Parades Commission, which will deal with the controversial marches issue in Northern Ireland, was announced yesterday to immediate criticism from the Orange Order.
Its chairman, Mr Alistair Graham, a former trade unionist, introduced the new body in Belfast yesterday.
The focus of criticism was the appointment of Mrs Berna McIvor, an SDLP member who has worked for Mr John Hume as his election agent for more than 25 years.
A senior Orangeman, Mr George Patton, said that while he had no desire to be drawn into comment on personalities, he questioned how a member of a political party could be construed as being independent.
Mr Patton criticised the concept of a commission which "burdens Northern Ireland with another quango style committee and doesn't deal with the real issue".
He added: "I don't believe it is the way forward. I believe it will generate much more grievances. I think the way forward is the recognition that people have the rights of assembly.
Mrs McIvor insists she is independent despite her politics. "I may be a nationalist and I certainly would have views and feelings about marches, but once I come together with my colleagues, I will be independent'."
Others on the five member panel are Mr Frank Guckian CBE, who is the director of Derry Chamber of Commerce; Mr David Hewitt CBE, a solicitor who is the Independent Assessor of Military Complaints Procedures; and the Rev Roy Magee MBE, a Presbyterian who helped broker the 1994 loyalist ceasefire.
Mr Magee denied he was there to sell the commission to loyalists. "He said: "I'm not going to try to do that. I don't think that is my task. I think my task is to be myself as I have always been, act in the independent way that I have always acted and bring what I can to the commission."
Announcing the appointments, the NI Secretary of State, Sir Patrick Mayhew, said: "The members are individually highly qualified for the task ahead, and collectively represent a useful balance of background and experience."
The commission will initially have a mediation, conciliation and education role, which, in the opinion of nationalists, is not enough.
A wider role for the commission, including adjudicatory powers, is currently subject to consultation which ends this month. Proposals are also being explored to expand the criteria under which restrictions can be imposed on parades, which was also recommended by the North Report on parades.
Sir Patrick said: "These appointments, together with the recent amendments to the Public Order Order, demonstrate the government's deep concern to secure that the extremely damaging public disorder of last summer shall not recur," adding that Mr Graham would make an "ideal chairman".
Mr Graham described the work ahead as important and difficult. "The commission's terms of reference place particular emphasis on providing better understanding in respect of parades and on the further development of mediation activities which we recognise as work of great value," he said.
"In the end it is up to the people of Northern Ireland to find a way through. We are just a conduit."
Mr Graham dismissed the idea that the commission was powerless. "We haven't come to a view about that. That is a matter for the politicians. It is going to be a matter for the incoming Secretary of State."
The commission has the responsibility of preparing a code of conduct to cover the behaviour of those who parade and those who protest.
Beginning today, Mr Graham and his team will be seeking to meet political, community and church leaders to discuss their views on how the commission can he most effective. He added: "I know the marching season is just beginning and many groups are already at work mediating local agreements. This work is of the greatest value and I urge those involved in it to carry on.
The Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition spokesman, Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith, said: "This is a step in the right direction towards getting full and open dialogue commenced." But he was puzzled" at its timing. It was "illogical" that the commission had been appointed before its actual rem it and terms of reference had been finally decided.
Mr Donncha MacNiallais, of Derry's Bogside Residents' Association, welcomed the commission but voiced concern that the commission did not have "any teeth". "We hope that at some stage in the future the commission will be able to make decisions in relation to contentious parades."
The SDLP's Mrs Brid Rodgers welcomed the commission but urged the British government to give it the necessary legislative framework to fulfil its tasks. "The commission will not have an easy task," she added.
"I know several of those nominated. They are people of the utmost integrity with a proven record of commitment and service to this community. In fairness to them and to the other members of the commission, it is essential that they be given the necssary legislative support to fulfil their obligations."
A Government spokesman in Dublin welcomed the announcement of the appointments. "We would share the hope of many that the commission would make a positive contribution to the resolution of the parades issue through dialogue, greater mutual understanding and respect," he said.
The Government had made it clear that it believed the commission should have, from the outset, the powers to make a determination about contentious parades. This was a core recommendation in the North report, the spokesman said.
He added that the Government had endorsed it as the way forward "and will continue to press the British government to implement in full the recommendations of the North Report".