Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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53. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline the most recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State and members of the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to parades during 2013, particularly in view of the difficulties in December and January with non-notified parades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19662/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have discussed the upcoming marching season, including the role of the Parades Commission, in the context of non-notified parades, with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers on a number of occasions. I will be raising this issue when I meet with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State and members of the Northern Ireland Executive next Monday 29 April. In addition, officials in my Department are in contact with the Northern Ireland Office regarding parades on an ongoing basis. I think it is important to put right the view that there is a legislative vacuum around non-notified parades, as has been suggested in the context of the flags protest. This is not the case, as is illustrated by the fact that over 200 people have been charged with a variety of offences since those protests began.

There is however an ongoing debate regarding the extent, if any, to which existing legislation needs to be strengthened to enhance the remit of the Parades Commission in these matters. There is no cross community consensus on this matter. Indeed, some unionist community representatives, far from wanting the Commission’s role extended, want it abolished completely. What is important at present is that where the Parades Commission has jurisdiction, all parties cooperate with it and respect its determinations. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I are fully in agreement on this issue. Furthermore, we are agreed that the police should be fully supported in their attempts to maintain public order.