THE BRITISH government will introduce legislation to create a new independent Parades Commission to rule on contentious marches in Northern Ireland. The measure was announced during Queen Elizabeth's speech at the state opening of parliament yesterday.
Under a Bill, which should he introduced later this year, the full recommendations of the North Report will be implemented, ensuring that the Commission will assume responsibility from the Royal Ulster Constabulary for making decisions on disputed parades. The Commission will be empowered to ban marches in the interests of community relations and public order.
After the announcement, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr Mo Mowlam, said she was determined that "the severe public disorder" at Drumcree last summer is not repeated. Although she acknowledged that many Orangemen believe the Commission will "threaten their freedom to parade peacefully", she pointed out that many nationalists feel their concerns are not appreciated.
"I am convinced that the best way of making progress is through dialogue leading to accommodation and agreement at local level. As the Queen's Speech indicates, the government will take steps to establish a comprehensive and evenhanded approach to encourage this," she added.
The Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, said he hoped the bipartisan approach to the peace process would continue and stressed that Northern Ireland is a "great priority" for his government.
He again called on the IRA to call an unequivocal ceasefire "demonstrated in word and deed", and appealed to Sinn Fein to "embrace once and for all the democratic process".
Among other measures, the British government is also committed to reforming the RUC by introducing an ombudsman and implementing new internal managing structures to bring the force in line with the police forces in England and Wales.