Off air
I've just come off air with this Sunday's "Inside Politics". used his interview to emphasise that local dialogue is necessary to ensure this summer's marching season is not exploited by dissidents. He stopped short of calling the Garvaghy residents intransigent, but urged them to start talking to the Drumcree Orangemen, who broke with the Order HQ's approach of no dialogue with his commission.
I think there's a story in the delay in the adoption of the proposal made by Lord Ashdown's team for replacing the Parades Commission. My Sinn Fein sources tell me it remains "a work in progress", but others suggest republicans have been linking it to either the completion of the devolution of justice or the affirmation of a "right to protest" against parades in a future Bill of Rights.
My guest Fionnuala O'Connor didn't appear that impressed, in any case, by the Ashdown suggestion of involving the First and Deputy First Minister's office in appointing new ad hoc parades tribunals.
And when we got on to talking about Sir Hugh Orde's replacement, Seamus Close questioned the ACPO guideline which appears to rule out any home grown candidates. According to today's Sunday Life, quoting the odds given by the bookmaker Paddy Power, three senior garda officers could be in the running. Why, wondered Seamus, is it alright to have served in any other force, but not the PSNI?
The Stormont politicians are back from their Easter Break next week. if you want to see what they are up to join me and Jim Fitzpatrick for Stormont Live tomorrow afternoon at 2.30 on Ö÷²¥´óÐã2.
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