The abolition of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission would be a "travesty", nationalists warned tonight.
As they prepared to meet members of the commission, an SDLP delegation headed by party leader Mr Mark Durkan condemned proposals to replace the commission with two separate bodies.
The recommendation in the Quigley Report was condemned by Mr Durkan who said it would be "a travesty if, just as we are making progress, the British government were to act on the report and scrap the Parades Commission.
"Implementing Quigley would cause huge uncertainty. It would also leave the police making key decisions on parades - decisions that they should not have to make.
"Above all, it would remove the incentive for marching orders and residents to engage in dialogue."
The Parades Commission was established in 1998 to adjudicate on whether controversial marches by the Protestant Orange Order, Apprentice Boys and Royal Black Preceptory should be restricted.
Unionist politicians have wanted its replacement, hardening their demands as Orangemen were barred from marching down the nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown since 1998.
The Quigley Report recommended the replacement of the commission with two bodies.
One of the groups would act as a mediator between rival sides. The other body would make the decision on parades.
PA