The Ashdown Solution
Leaked details of the interim Ashdown report have been condemned by the SDLP's Dolores Kelly and welcomed by the Orange Order, who see it as a victory in their campaign to abolish the Parades Commission. If the new structures enjoy the participation of both the Loyal Orders and nationalist residents groups they may stand a better chance of success than previous "piggies in the middle".
However the suggested involvement of panels appointed by the OFMDFM will raise some eyebrows given the difficulties associated with the new Victims Commission. If a three strong panel appointed to rule on a particular marching dispute is divided will they be allowed to reach a verdict by a majority vote, or should it be unanimous?
There's also the involvement of the councils as an "administrative conduit" for march applications. Although the Ashdown team's aim is to depoliticise parades, our councils haven't exactly been apolitical on the topic in recent years.
Presuming the NIO accepts the report, the new structures will not be in place in time to deal with this year's marching season. So the Parades Commission still has a job to do in the immediate future.
However it will be interesting to see if the proposals could be put in place for the summer of 2009, and whether there may be any interplay between the introduction of a marching solution attractive to the DUP and the party's acceptance that the time is right to devolve policing and justice.
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