Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to apply pressure on the UK Government to intervene in the Drumcree parade dispute, which she described as a “dangerous and lingering limbo”.
Speaking in the Dáil, Ms McDonald told Mr Martin he has a responsibility to “apply all necessary pressure” on the UK Prime Minister and Northern Ireland Secretary of State. She said that after 11 days of the ongoing impasse, Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has not intervened, accusing him of allowing the issue to fester.
Call for direct intervention
“He should have acted on day one and he should act now,” the Dublin TD added. She repeated her calls for Sir Chris to use his powers to prevent the parade from taking place.
Ms McDonald further accused Sir Chris of leaving people in “limbo” after he “walked away” when the proposal put forward in last week’s talks to resolve the dispute was rejected.
“The British Secretary of State now updates his Twitter account more regularly than the residents, who he hasn’t spoken to since last Thursday,” she added.
“It is the residents who live with the consequences. After 11 days of this, the case for direct intervention is now unanswerable.
“I am focusing my remarks on the British Secretary of State for the simple reason that he is the person who can intervene now, to call an end to this march and to allow the space for the very considerable repair work that will have to be done on Garvaghy Road, across Portadown and further afield.
“We are facing into a very, very dangerous limbo and stalemate and I think there is a responsibility on you to apply all necessary pressure and Prime Minister (Andy) Burnham and the Secretary of State to intervene now and to put a stop to what is a dangerous and now lingering limbo situation.”
Martin defends approach
Mr Martin said he spoke to Mr Burnham about the matter two days ago. “I still believe that we need a mediated resolution of this and that’s the wider lens through which I am looking at this,” Mr Martin added.
“I don’t understand why you are just having a go at the Northern Ireland Secretary of State in the way you have. I think if we wish to persuade people, we have got to try to work to persuade them.
“The talks that have happened could result in an outcome if we maintain dialogue and we will see what happens.”
Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Mr Martin accused Ms McDonald of engaging in actions that would not contribute “to a satisfactory resolution” of the issues.
“I’m looking round the corner, I’m looking ahead and I’m not so sure you are. I think you are looking to the here and now for your own electoral reasons. I hate to say that but that’s the conclusion I have come to,” he added.
Parade blocked over disorder concerns
Their comments come after Northern Ireland’s Parades Commission dramatically allowed the parade along its traditional route on the Garvaghy Road for the first time for almost 30 years. However, it has been unable to proceed because of police concerns about disorder.
Members of the Portadown District of the Orange Order remain at Drumcree Church, demanding to be allowed to begin their parade. Protesters have maintained a presence on the Garvaghy Road, insisting that what they see as a “triumphalist” parade should not be allowed, citing the violent history of the march in the 1990s.
McEntee urges agreement
Earlier, the Irish foreign affairs minister said the only solution to the Drumcree parade dispute is where the Orange Order and the residents of the Garvaghy Road come to an agreement. Helen McEntee said history has shown that the only way to find a resolution in Northern Ireland is where “both sides can potentially move forward”.
The Fine Gael minister said that “irrespective” of the Court of Appeal judgment, both sides should come to an agreement. Speaking in Dublin, Ms McEntee said she speaks to the Secretary of State on a daily basis.
“The Irish government has a role in trying to bring people together and in trying to ensure that if there is a solution and an agreement between both the residents and indeed the Orange Order, that we are there to support that,” she added.
“But the discussions themselves, led by the Secretary of State, have to take place. Where I see my role and this Government’s role is making sure that we can support whatever agreement is put in place.”
She said the Irish Government is engaging with political parties in Northern Ireland to ensure it does not impact on the Executive.
Ms McEntee said there is a lot of focus on the Court of Appeal case. Judgment has been reserved in the legal challenge against the decision which legally permits the Orange Order to march along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The case has been taken by the residents of the predominantly nationalist Garvaghy Road.
“Irrespective of that, I would say, and it’s not to dismiss what the outcome is, irrespective, I believe the only way that there will be a solution is where the residents and the Orange Order come to an agreement,” Ms McEntee added.
“History has shown us, anything in Northern Ireland, that’s the only way that you find a resolution, where both sides can potentially move forward.
“It’s a challenging environment, it’s difficult, but there’s a lot of people who have, I suppose, really put a huge amount of work into this over the last week or so, and I’m confident that we will be able to find a solution.”
