Parades Commission
Encyclopedia
The Parades Commission is a quasi-judicial
non-departmental public body
responsible for placing restrictions on or banning outright any parades in Northern Ireland
it deems contentious or offensive. It is composed of seven members, all of whom are appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
. Restrictions it can impose include a prohibition on music being played, banning a parade from certain areas, determining the route of a parade, and banning bands it deems provocative. Its rulings are usually enforced by either parade stewards or the police
, though there are disputes as to whether this is done to the letter of the law in certain areas. The Commission acts under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.
Parade organisers and participants are liable to arrest and prosecution for breaching any of the Commission's rulings, although no-one has been charged since the Commission was established in 1998. A section 6(7) offence has a maximum punishment of 6 months imprisonment or level 5 on the standard scale
.
The Commission was set up after the large-scale civil strife that followed the Drumcree conflict
over an Orange Order
parade in Portadown
. It has come under strong criticism from the Order. The Grand Lodge of the Order has a policy of non-engagement with the Commission, although some private and district lodges, particularly those with contentious parades, have agreed to talk to it.
The Commissioners are:
On December 20th 2010 Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson
announced new Commissioners, who will serve from January 2011. They are:
Quasi-judicial body
A quasi-judicial body is an individual or organization which has powers resembling those of a court of law or judge and is able to remedy a situation or impose legal penalties on a person or organization.-Powers:...
non-departmental public body
Non-departmental public body
In the United Kingdom, a non-departmental public body —often referred to as a quango—is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive to certain types of public bodies...
responsible for placing restrictions on or banning outright any parades in Northern Ireland
Parades in Northern Ireland
Parades are an important part of Northern Irish culture. Although the majority of parades are held ostensibly by Protestant, unionist or Ulster loyalist groups, nationalist, republican and non-political groups also parade. Parading is often considered to be an assertion of a group's control over a...
it deems contentious or offensive. It is composed of seven members, all of whom are appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
. Restrictions it can impose include a prohibition on music being played, banning a parade from certain areas, determining the route of a parade, and banning bands it deems provocative. Its rulings are usually enforced by either parade stewards or the police
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
, though there are disputes as to whether this is done to the letter of the law in certain areas. The Commission acts under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.
Parade organisers and participants are liable to arrest and prosecution for breaching any of the Commission's rulings, although no-one has been charged since the Commission was established in 1998. A section 6(7) offence has a maximum punishment of 6 months imprisonment or level 5 on the standard scale
Standard scale
The standard scale is a system whereby financial criminal penalties in legislation have maximum levels set against a standard scale. Then, when inflation makes it necessary to increase the levels of the fines the legislators need to modify only the scale rather than each individual piece of...
.
The Commission was set up after the large-scale civil strife that followed the Drumcree conflict
Drumcree conflict
The Drumcree conflict or Drumcree standoff is an ongoing dispute over a yearly parade in the town of Portadown, Northern Ireland. The dispute is between the Orange Order and local residents. The residents are currently represented by the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition ; before 1995 they were...
over an Orange Order
Orange Institution
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland...
parade in Portadown
Portadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
. It has come under strong criticism from the Order. The Grand Lodge of the Order has a policy of non-engagement with the Commission, although some private and district lodges, particularly those with contentious parades, have agreed to talk to it.
The Commissioners are:
- Rena Shepherd (Chair)
- Joe HendronJoe HendronJoseph Gerard Hendron is a Northern Ireland politician, a member of the moderate Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party ....
- Vilma Patterson
- Alison Scott-McKinley
- Kelly AndrewsKelly AndrewsKelly Andrews is the Co-Chair of the Green Party in Northern Ireland.Andrews studied at Queen's University Belfast. After working in community development, Andrews joined the Green Party in 2003, and was elected Co-Chair in 2005...
- Edwin Graham
On December 20th 2010 Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson
Owen Paterson
Owen William Paterson is a British Conservative Party politician and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. He is the Member of Parliament for North Shropshire.-Early life and career:Paterson was born in Whitchurch, Shropshire...
announced new Commissioners, who will serve from January 2011. They are:
- Peter Osborne (Chair)
- Douglas Bain
- Delia Close
- Reverend Brian Kennaway
- Dr Catriona King
- Frances Nolan
- Robin Percival