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Unionist leaders meet Theresa Villiers on Orange parades Sinn Fein say parade inquiry call 'lopsided'
(about 1 hour later)
Unionists and Orange Order leaders have met with Secretary of State Theresa Villiers to call for a parades inquiry. Sinn Féin have labelled an inquiry proposed by Unionist and Orange Order leaders as "lopsided".
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness was speaking after meeting the secretary of state on Tuesday.
Unionist leaders also met with Theresa Villiers to call for a parades inquiry to look at the issues surrounding the Orange order's return route in north Belfast.
First Minister Peter Robinson said it was not a "one-sided approach".
The meeting included representatives of the DUP, the Ulster Unionist Party, the TUV, UKIP, the PUP, the UPRG and the Orange Order.The meeting included representatives of the DUP, the Ulster Unionist Party, the TUV, UKIP, the PUP, the UPRG and the Orange Order.
They are concerned about the ongoing Parades Commission ban on the order's return route in north Belfast. They are concerned about the ongoing Parades Commission ban on the return leg of a parade in North Belfast on 12 July.
A Sinn Féin delegation met separately with Ms Villiers on Tuesday afternoon. The unionist group wants a time-bound commission of inquiry.
Speaking before the meetings, DUP MP Nigel Dodds said the unionist group wanted a time-bound commission of inquiry "to move things forward". They said it could hear evidence, carry out research, talk to people, initiate dialogue and oversee dialogue.
It would discuss social and political matters outside the remit of the Parades Commission, he told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster on Tuesday. Sinn Fein said the issue could only be resolved with the resumption of all-party round-table talks.
Mr Dodds said the inquiry could hear evidence, carry out research, talk to people, initiate dialogue and oversee dialogue. "We are very conscious that these issues around the whole aspect of parading, the past and how we deal with flags, symbols and identity do need to be resolved," said Mr McGuinness.
"This inquiry would not come to determinations, but would assist in resolving disputes by making recommendations which would form a basis for a better future," he said. "We are speaking to you now against a backdrop of a demand from the combined unionist and loyalist parties for what they call an inquiry around the situation at Ardoyne.
"It would be how we move things forward, this is an issue which isn't going to go away. We have had a peaceful 12 July, but an enormous amount of work was done within the unionist community to make this happen." "We absolutely believe in the independence and integrity of the Parades Commission.
"We're opposed to an inquiry."
Speaking after the meeting Mr Robinson said leadership was needed from the nationalist and republican community.
"It is not a unionist answer to the problem," he said.
"It is recognising that in order for there to be a resolution we need the participation of everyone.
"It does no violence to any other process. It doesn't relate to the leaders talks.
"Neither does it impinge on works of the Parades Commission."
'Big efforts''Big efforts'
On Thursday, Theresa Villiers said she was prepared to listen carefully. On Thursday of last week, Theresa Villiers said she was prepared to listen carefully.
"I think that the fact that the Parades Commission, in their determination, called for a more structured process to try and bring people together in north Belfast is worth considering."I think that the fact that the Parades Commission, in their determination, called for a more structured process to try and bring people together in north Belfast is worth considering.
"But, I think, before I make a decision I would need to discuss it with a range of people as to what, if any, new process were to go ahead in north Belfast.""But, I think, before I make a decision I would need to discuss it with a range of people as to what, if any, new process were to go ahead in north Belfast."
Ms Villiers acknowledged that agreeing to an inquiry into the issues of parades was a heavily-weighted decision. At a news conference two weeks ago, First Minister Peter Robinson read from an agreed statement from the combined unionist and Orange Order leadership calling for the Inquiry.
"There is no doubt that many in the unionist and loyalist community are deeply concerned about the situation in north Belfast," she said. "This is a further part of our graduated response strategy, and follows on from our withdrawal from the leaders talks, ending contact with the so-called Parades Commission and the steps outlined by the Orange Institution," he said.
"I, of course, recognise that big efforts were made to ensure that the Twelfth was more peaceful this year than it has been for many years, and I'll be listening carefully to what the unionist leaders have to propose."
At the news conference two weeks ago, First Minister Peter Robinson read from an agreed statement from the combined unionist and Orange Order leadership.
"The combined unionist parties call upon the secretary of state to establish a time-bound commission of inquiry with the necessary legal powers and resources to examine the Crumlin Road parades impasse and the wider issues it represents," he said.
"This is a further part of our graduated response strategy, and follows on from our withdrawal from the leaders talks, ending contact with the so-called Parades Commission and the steps outlined by the Orange Institution.
"In addition, the parties are agreed that at every level - council, assembly, Westminster and Europe - the denial of cultural expression, resulting from republican violence and threats of violence, will have a consequence determining how our members at each of these levels of government will participate."
Meanwhile, residents groups in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast have called on the Orange Order to engage in talks about future marches on the Crumlin Road.Meanwhile, residents groups in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast have called on the Orange Order to engage in talks about future marches on the Crumlin Road.