Garvaghy Road march
Deputy Stanley condemned the Garvaghy Road march and the Parades Commission’s decision, calling for debate on the Government’s response. The Minister said Drumcree was sensitive, referred to the Taoiseach’s efforts, and prioritised continued engagement with Northern Ireland and British authorities and local communities; the Order remained unagreed.
I ask for time to be put aside to discuss the events of the weekend on the Garvaghy Road and the response of this House to it. The march was banned for 28 years. The only reason it was given the go-ahead and that the Orange Order wanted to go ahead with it was to demonstrate supremacy and dominance over the nationalist community there. The Government is the co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement.
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The Parades Commission that shot this through has lost credibility. We need to discuss it here-----
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-----and our response to that to make sure this does not happen again.
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I thank the Opposition Members for their requests. In relation to the situation in Drumcree in the North, we all understand how sensitive a time this is. The Taoiseach addressed looking for a pathway forward under Leaders' Questions. It is important that everyone involved from the Minister for foreign affairs to the UK Secretary of State and, importantly, the communities are allowed to continue. Statements in relation to CHI will be scheduled in the next couple of weeks. I heard the other requests but we have significant business to get through this week as the budget is next week, so the Order of Business stands.
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There is loads of time.
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Not agreed.
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Question put: "That the proposed arrangements for this week's business be agreed to."
Do you agree with this result?