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Harris said: "We can never again see a nationalist community left behind in the north." Alamy Stock Photo
drumcree
Harris says Parades Commission 'got this extraordinarily wrong' as protests continue
The commission blocked the contentious parade from marching along Portadown’s Garvaghy Road every year since 1998.
LAST UPDATE | 30 mins ago
TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has said the Parades Commission – who made the decision to allow the Orange Order to march down Garvaghy Road – “got this extraordinarily wrong”.
The stand-off on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown has entered its third day after the Drumcree parade was stalled when a large crowd of protesters, including multiple Dáil TDs, gathered in the area to prevent the parade going ahead.
The Parades Commission blocked the parade, which was associated with violent clashes during the Troubles, from marching along Portadown’s Garvaghy Road in July every year since 1998.
Stormont power-sharing came under threat after opposition parties accused representatives who joined protesters on Garvaghy Road of breaking the law.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant is facilitating what he has described as “positive” talks, which he said he is prepared to continue today after returning from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Speaking to reporters outside Leinster House this morning, the Tánaiste said: “The decision of the Parades Commission has been very triggering, traumatic and devastating for a community that has suffered far too much.”
Harris, who met with residents of Garvaghy Road in Leinster House last week, said he has been in touch with political leaders in the north, as well as the Taoiseach and foreign affairs minister on this matter.
Responding to criticism that the government has been slow to respond, Harris said there has been “very intensive engagement”.
“The Irish government is very clear in relation to this, and my very strong view is that the Parades Commission got this extraordinarily wrong,” he said.
“That part is perhaps for another day. What is most essential now is that the unique and traumatic circumstances and the history of that trauma are understood in finding a solution and finding a way forward.”
The Tánaiste said the situation is “appalling”, adding: “We can never again see a nationalist community left behind in the north”.
He said that he hopes that while the stand-off is in place, peace and good-order continue to be maintained.
Meanwhile, foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee told reporters she wanted to acknowledge and commend “the restraint that has been shown” and called for continued calm.
“We expect today to be further engagement with the community, and we are expecting to be further engagement with the Orange Order,” she said.
The Garvaghy Road Residents’ Association has said it is willing to enter mediation aimed at finding a long-term resolution to the Drumcree dispute.
Breandán Mac Cionnaith said residents wanted any mediator to have experience in conflict resolution and to come from outside Ireland and Britain.
Asked about this today, McEntee said: “That’s likely the direction that we’re going in, and I think that would be welcome on all sides.”
“I think it’s important that we have someone that would understand the situation first and foremost, because it’s a very complex situation, and as we know, there has been significant trauma and there have been significant challenges over the years,” the minister added.
Responding to criticism that the government has been slow to issue a statement, McEntee said that she, as well as the Taoiseach and others, have been “consistently engaging from the very outset”.
“When it comes to the specific issue of marching, that is a responsibility for the UK government. At the same time, we are not taking a step back here,” she added.
“It is really important that people know that we are working together on this because, as far as I’m concerned, this has very clearly highlighted that there are still gaps that we need to work on.”
“That there are still significant issues, particularly in terms of reconciliation, bringing communities together and bringing political parties together.”
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