Written answers

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Northern Ireland Marching Season

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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165. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if it is planned to discuss the Parades Commission at the next North/South Ministerial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23706/13]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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180. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the Parades Commission will ensure that the forthcoming marching season will be as peaceful as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28699/13]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 180 together.

The issue of Parades features in almost all of my regular discussions with the British government, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and with political and community leaders in Northern Ireland. I have spoken in the past two weeks with both the Secretary State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers MP and NI Justice Minister David Ford. We have a shared concern about the potential for sectarian violence during the summer marching season. I re-iterated our view that it is essential that the determinations of the Parades Commission are fully respected and that the Commission itself and the Police Service of Northern Ireland receive full support from everyone. Apart from the risk to life and the potential for parades linked violence to damage community relations, it would be a real pity also for the positive images about the North coming out form the success of the G8 conference were replaces with the familiar scenes of riot and attacks on police.

The primary onus for ensuring that the parading season remains peaceful rests with the two communities. What is certain is that for so long both communities are unable to agree then an outside arbiter or determination mechanism is necessary. The Parades Commission’s fulfils that essential function at present and the difficult and sometimes unpalatable decisions it is required to make cannot be used as an excuse for violence by anyone.

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