UUP wants new Parading Review Team to help and not hinder Solution Finding
UUP Parades spokesman Michael Copeland today gave a cautious welcome to the appointment of the Strategic Review of Parading Team.
In a statement Mr Copeland said,
“There are a couple of high profile appointments to the Review Team and of course Paddy Ashdown is no stranger to parading himself.
Time will tell however if this newly established body is to be yet another talking shop which skirts around the tough issues associated with parading, or if it will go some way to addressing the mistakes of the Parades Commission who have allowed, and indeed contributed towards the perception that all is not equal when it comes to parading.
Parading forms an intrinsic part of Northern Irish culture and, despite a concerted effort by one side of the community to demonise this culture, the new atmosphere created by a return of devolution based on equality and mutual respect should in theory allow a lasting and equitable solution to Parading in general to be found.
Whether the Strategic Review Team will help or hinder bringing this situation about remains to be seen.”