THE ORANGE Order is to meet the DUP for talks about future arrangements for controversial parades following its rejection of joint DUP-Sinn Féin proposals agreed earlier this year.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said he also wants to meet the main loyal orders to receive a briefing on the parades and to discuss “the role . . . of Orangeism in modern Irish society”.
Sinn Féin and the DUP had concluded a series of measures to replace the Parades Commission following the securing of agreement on policing and justice devolution in February.
Orangemen have long opposed the Parades Commission and had been expected to offer at least qualified support for new proposals.
Mr Adams said the rejection by the Orange leadership was “a stark reminder of the sectarian undercurrent that marks the parading issue”.
He accused the Ulster Unionist Party of indulging in “disgraceful” party politics.
“The UUP approach, as articulated by Tom Elliot and David McNarry, has been dictated not by what is best for the community . . . but by the UUP’s desire to score political points against the DUP.”
The Ulster Unionists have denied they teamed up with the Traditional Unionist Voice to ambush the DUP proposals.
Mr Adams said: “There are now almost 4,000 parades annually . . . and most of these pass off peacefully. There are however a small number of contentious parades and the agreement between Sinn Féin and the DUP at Hillsborough is a serious and genuine attempt to provide a legal framework within which this matter can be resolved.”