March dialogue 'the way forward'

Parades at Drumcree have been peaceful for the past three years

Dialogue between local people is the "only way to reach a lasting solution" to marching issues in Northern Ireland, the Parades Commission has said.

The commission has reviewed its role and published a report called Parading and a Peaceful Northern Ireland.

Commission chairman Roger Poole said violent incidents had decreased.

"This happened because people in key areas across their community and the community divide worked tirelessly," he said.

The commission said that it wanted the secretary of state to allow certain vintage vehicle associations an exemption from the main provisions of the 1998 parades act.

It said it also wanted to add greater clarity and accessibility to its determinations by reviewing its use of language and "the inclusion of more explanatory material".

'Amend rules'

The body also wants its procedural rules amended to clarify the process of determining whether a parade is considered contentious.

"The commission is putting greater effort than ever before in promoting and facilitating dialogue," the report said.

"The challenge for us all is to talk through our concerns, fears, passions, beliefs and frustrations. It is a challenge the Parades Commission is willing to take."

The Parades Commission currently makes about 170 determinations every year, although more than 50 of those deal with re-applications for the Portadown Orange Order's Drumcree march.

The commission was set up in 1997 to make decisions on whether controversial parades should be restricted.