'Orange role in united Ireland'

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Orange Order marches will continue in any future united Ireland according to the Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams.

Speaking in Westminster Gerry Adams told an audience that in his vision of a shared Ireland unionists would have equal ownership.

The West Belfast MP also appealed to unionists to consider how better off they would be outside the UK.

The Sinn Fein leader was speaking as part of an international campaign aimed towards achieving Irish re-unification.

Gerry Adams told the audience that a re-united Ireland must be a tolerant place.

"It must be a place in which there is political, social, economic and cultural equality.

"This means that Orange marches, albeit on the basis of respect and cooperation, will continue in a United Ireland if that is the wish of the Orange."

Arguments

He said he was politically at odds with those who support the union but it was important to listen to their arguments

"I am totally opposed to the union but I believe that democrats must listen to unionism about what they believe the union offers citizens," he said.

The Order's leadership have not ruled out meeting Mr Adams

He added: "We need to look at what unionists mean by their sense of Britishness and be willing to explore and to be open to new concepts."

The Sinn Fein leader also appealed to unionists to consider what role they would have in a United Ireland.

"It is worth noting that within the British system, unionists are fewer than two per cent of the population; they cannot hope to have any significant say in the direction of their own affairs," he told the London audience.

"As 20 per cent of a new Ireland, unionists will be able to assert their full rights and entitlements and exercise real political power and influence."

Sinn Fein have organised two similar events in the United States in recent weeks and a major conference is expected to take place in Britain in February.