The South African human-rights lawyer, Mr Brian Currin, returns to Northern Ireland today for another round of intensive talks aimed at brokering a resolution to the 27-month Drumcree parade dispute.
It is expected Mr Currin will meet representatives of the Garvaghy Road residents and officials of the Portadown Orange District later this week. He will also have discussions with officials from the Northern Ireland Office and Portadown business representatives.
Before his return to South Africa in September, Mr Currin submitted a series of proposals to the Garvaghy Road residents and the Portadown Orangemen aimed at creating a formal mediation process. It is believed any new talks will include social and economic issues in Portadown as well as addressing the parade dispute itself.
Over the past month Mr Currin has remained in regular contact with both parties, believing that any mediation must be completed early in the new year in order to avoid another Drumcree standoff in July 2001.
It is unlikely that the new mediation process will involve face-to-face discussions between residents and Orangemen. The Portadown Orangemen have made it clear that they are not prepared to meet the Garvaghy Road residents until after the Drumcree parade is completed.
Meanwhile, the Orange Order has written to each of its 150 districts seeking their opinions on whether they wish to retain the order's policy of not talking to the Parades Commission and nationalist residents' groups. The move comes as pressure grows on the Orange Order's leadership to take positive steps to resolve the Drumcree impasse.
A number of senior Orangemen are now known to be in favour of meeting the Parades Commission. However, it is clear that there is little desire to meet any of the nationalist residents' groups.
Orange districts have been asked to submit their views in writing before November 24th. It is expected a vote on the no-talks policy will take place at the next meeting of the Grand Lodge of Ireland later this year.