Public Assemblies

“that’s why Richard Haass needs proof – right from the start – that the will to construct a deal really does exist”

Pete Baker on August 26, 2013, 4:32 pm | Readers 72

Having abandoned their first, draconian, attempt to control regulate Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests, Sinn Féin and the DUP may now face a wider variety of emboldened dissenting voices in seeking compromise on the issue. Alex Kane has some advice for the incoming chair of the new, improved, working group on parades. From the News Letter article If I were Mr Haass I would gather all of the parties and assorted hangers-on around the table at 9am on the first Monday morning and …

“Until such time as locally owned arrangements can be found…”

Pete Baker on December 20, 2010, 2:08 pm | Readers 12

Following the shelving of the Sinn Féin/DUP drafted Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill, Northern Ireland Minister of State, Hugo Swire, announced “the launch of an open competition for appointment to the posts of chairman and members of the Parades Commission.” Today, as the BBC reports, Owen Paterson revealed the outcome of that competition. From the NI Secretary of State’s statement Secretary of State Owen Paterson MP today announced the appointment of Peter Osborne as Chair of the Parades Commission …

OFMDFM abandon Draft Public Assemblies Bill?

Pete Baker on September 27, 2010, 6:34 pm | Readers 11

The BBC report follows the lead given by the Northern Ireland First Minister, the DUP’s Peter Robinson, in blaming the Orange Order’s rejection of the proposals for the withdrawal of the draft Bill on Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests. But abandoning that Bill conveniently avoids the First and deputy First Ministers having to fulfill their commitment to deliver in legislation the agreed outcomes of that working group – and their special advisers… The legislation they proposed was, after all, “built on ignorance of the law, plain stupidity, arrogance, …

Owen Paterson: “It is absolutely not an option to leave a [Parades Commission] hole.”

Pete Baker on September 8, 2010, 1:45 pm | Readers 4

With the future of the DUP/Sinn Féin drafted Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill currently uncertain the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, has told Parliament’s Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that if no new legislation was produced by the NI Assembly he will “reappoint a Parades Commission by January next year”. The draft Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill has already been consulted on and is due to go through the Northern Ireland Assembly this autumn. It was drawn up following the report …

U-turn over Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill?

Pete Baker on August 12, 2010, 11:47 am | Readers 14

The Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers have published a very short summary of the responses [pdf file] to the consultation on their jointly drafted Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill [pdf file]. That’s the draft Bill “built on ignorance of the law, plain stupidity, arrogance, and worst of all, political expediency.” We’ll have to wait to see the detail of the reported amendments being proposed. But let’s be clear about one thing. When the First Minister says “The primary change …

“The bill is built on ignorance of the law, plain stupidity, arrogance, and worst of all, political expediency.”

Pete Baker on August 4, 2010, 4:24 pm | Readers 10

In his Irish News column this week Brian Feeney is mostly correct in his response to the, DUP/Sinn Féin drafted, contentious “Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill“. Where he’s wrong is in his assertion that “The problem to be confronted under the terms of the Hillsborough Agreement was Orange marches – and only 5 per cent of them”. As I’ve pointed out previously, the Hillsborough Agreement actually tasked the working group on parades with attempting “to create a new improved framework …

“Sure you know how it is…”

Pete Baker on July 17, 2010, 9:31 pm | Readers 5

Before it vanishes into the ether… Earlier this month in the Derry Journal Eamonn McCann offered, what should be, a salutary tale from the recent past In the Sunday World more than 25 years ago, I wrote some of the first pieces to appear in the Irish media about the spread of drug-abuse in Dublin and the human reality of addiction. I covered the emergence of Concerned Parents Against Drugs – and then the marginalisation of the CPAD as armed elements …

“It is part of the outworking of the Hillsborough Agreement…”

Pete Baker on July 15, 2010, 6:32 pm | Readers 7

Interesting comment yesterday from Sinn Féin’s John O’Dowd on the end of the consultation period on the Sinn Féin/DUP drafted Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill [pdf file] – which a significant number of diverse groups are opposing. From the SF statement “This legislation is an attempt to find a better way forward. It is part of the outworking of the Hillsborough Agreement. It is only designed to be about the issue of parades and related protests. Concerns raised by Trade …

“some of the draft Bill’s restrictions to the freedom of assembly are not proportionate or necessary”

Pete Baker on July 14, 2010, 4:41 pm | Readers 7

We’ve seen opposition from the Orange Order’s Grand Lodge, and from Queen’s University law lecturer Vicky Conway, and from Newry and Mourne Council [Adds – And from Residents Groups]. And, as wj pointed out, the Committee on the Administration of Justice [CAJ] have published their submission to the consultation on the Sinn Féin/DUP drafted Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill [pdf file]. Here are some extracted paragraphs from the submission [pdf file] On “Disproportionate Restrictions to Freedom of Assembly” Although we recognise the particular difficulties surrounding parades …

“The content of this bill seeks to remove the Parades Commission…”

Pete Baker on July 14, 2010, 12:35 pm | Readers 4

Newshound spots an interesting report in the Newry Democrat. I’ve already noted the decision by the Orange Order’s Grand Lodge. Now it’s reported that, at a specially convened meeting, Newry and Mourne Council have agreed to oppose the Sinn Féin/DUP drafted Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill on the grounds it is “an infringement of civil liberties and human rights“. According to the Newry Democrat report [SDLP group leader Councillor Gary] Stokes said Sinn Fein has “joined forces” with the DUP in promoting the …

“This is an attempt to curtail liberties and rights…”

Pete Baker on July 8, 2010, 3:26 pm | Readers 5

As I mentioned yesterday, there is a growing lobby opposed to the DUP/SF drafted legislation on contentious parades public assembly. The Guardian has a short post by Dr Vicky Conway of the Human Rights in Ireland group blog. As the post at the Guardian points out The Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill, published on 20 April of this year, stems from the Hillsborough Agreement of February which established a committee to deal with parading issues. Recognising the competing rights of all relating to parades …

Your outrage must endure another 37 days…

Elizabeth Nelson on June 2, 2010, 8:02 pm | Readers 3

Outraged at Israel’s violent attack on the humanitarian aid flotilla? Outraged at those who are outraged? Either way, you may have to wait 37 days the next time you want to join your international peers in demonstrating your anger. Something that should’ve been obvious from yesterday’s City Centre vigil for the flotilla, but was rarely mentioned: If the Public Assemblies Bill passes, yesterday’s demonstration would have been illegal. The organizers and everyone there could have been subject to six months in …