Quote:
Ex-Orange leader on parades body
David Burrows was a former district master in Portadown
A former district master of the Orange Order in Portadown has been appointed to the Parades Commission.
David Burrows came to prominence during the Drumcree parade dispute but resigned from a senior post in the Order this year for personal reasons.
However, Mr Burrows still remains a member of the Orange Order.
In a joint statement, the loyal orders said they intended to engage with the government on the parades issue in the New Year.
The Orange Order, the Royal Black Institution and the Independent Loyal Orange Institution issued the statement following the announcement of new appointments to the commission.
The institutions said it was their intention to engage with the government and other stakeholders "in a positive way to enable a permanent resolution of the issues surrounding parades".
The new chairman of the commission has been named as Roger Poole, a former trade unionist from England, who will lead a new team of six other commissioners.
He also had a prominent role as a chief negotiator of the national ambulance strike of 1989 to 1990.
He was also a key player in the merger of trade unions NUPE and COSI which formed Unison.
It is understood Mr Poole is already in Belfast preparing for his new role.
Donald MacKay, an Orangeman and former Ulster Unionist councillor on Craigavon Borough Council who is now a member of the DUP, has also been appointed, as has former SDLP MP Joe Hendron.
There was not a single woman on the outgoing Parades Commission, however, Ann Monaghan, who once stood for the Women's Coalition, Vilma Patterson and Alison Scott-McKinley have been appointed.
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has challenged the new commissioners to "make contentious parades a thing of the past".
"I am appointing this commission with a mandate to work itself out of a job by helping to create an environment in which accommodations on parades can be made between the two communities without the need for formal determinations," he said.
"I am confident that Roger's down to earth approach and willingness to engage with people will help move parades towards a new era and that he will be ably supported by the rest of the commission."
The Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether or not restrictions should be imposed on controversial parades during Northern Ireland's marching season.
David Burrows was a former district master in Portadown
A former district master of the Orange Order in Portadown has been appointed to the Parades Commission.
David Burrows came to prominence during the Drumcree parade dispute but resigned from a senior post in the Order this year for personal reasons.
However, Mr Burrows still remains a member of the Orange Order.
In a joint statement, the loyal orders said they intended to engage with the government on the parades issue in the New Year.
The Orange Order, the Royal Black Institution and the Independent Loyal Orange Institution issued the statement following the announcement of new appointments to the commission.
The institutions said it was their intention to engage with the government and other stakeholders "in a positive way to enable a permanent resolution of the issues surrounding parades".
The new chairman of the commission has been named as Roger Poole, a former trade unionist from England, who will lead a new team of six other commissioners.
He also had a prominent role as a chief negotiator of the national ambulance strike of 1989 to 1990.
He was also a key player in the merger of trade unions NUPE and COSI which formed Unison.
It is understood Mr Poole is already in Belfast preparing for his new role.
Donald MacKay, an Orangeman and former Ulster Unionist councillor on Craigavon Borough Council who is now a member of the DUP, has also been appointed, as has former SDLP MP Joe Hendron.
There was not a single woman on the outgoing Parades Commission, however, Ann Monaghan, who once stood for the Women's Coalition, Vilma Patterson and Alison Scott-McKinley have been appointed.
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has challenged the new commissioners to "make contentious parades a thing of the past".
"I am appointing this commission with a mandate to work itself out of a job by helping to create an environment in which accommodations on parades can be made between the two communities without the need for formal determinations," he said.
"I am confident that Roger's down to earth approach and willingness to engage with people will help move parades towards a new era and that he will be ably supported by the rest of the commission."
The Parades Commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether or not restrictions should be imposed on controversial parades during Northern Ireland's marching season.
trecherious scum...
deals have been done.. the reasons he stood down in July was so he could join this quango. this not only means that the orange cant not recognise this unelected body but that the message put out into the public domain now is that there is no bias. which is rubbish. If there was no bais towards the republican cause the RUC would not have been destroyed (they where destroyed for doing their job too well) the north south ministerial council would not have been set up and Dublin would not be being consulted on N.I. policy. this is a sad day for Unionists everywere in the UK. i am discusted by the actions of Mr. Burrows. i belive he should be expelled from the order.
This reminds me of the policy adopted by the Liberal Party in Italy in the early 20th century where they pulled in support from the socialists and the conservatives. stressed the DUP and the Orange have been sucked in by this.. their is no one left to defend the Union or Northern Ireland.