Irish Government ‘very concerned’ over Drumcree dispute

The Irish Government remains “very, very concerned” about tensions in Drumcree, the Irish premier said as he called for political parties to “dial back” and come to a resolution.Micheál Martin said there is an “obligation on everybody now to stand back and to mediate an outcome” in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland.The Taoiseach said that events over the last few days have threatened to undermine community relationships.Loyal order members remained at Drumcree in Portadown on Monday after a weekend of tension in the Co Armagh town after their planned parade was stopped by police as officers were concerned about the scale of a mass protest on part of the proposed route – the predominantly nationalist Garvaghy Road.Orange Order members gather near Drumcree Church as police form a barricade to prevent them entering the Garvaghy Road (Peter Morrison/PA)PA WireOrangemen attempted to commence their parade on several occasions, including in the early hours of Monday morning, but police halted them on each occasion.The parading dispute has erupted again after the Parades Commission adjudication panel granted permission for a limited parade down the Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years.Speaking to reporters in Cork, Mr Martin said: “I pay tribute to the PSNI, who have been left in a very, very difficult – if not somewhat impossible – position, and I appreciate the leadership of chief constable Jon Boutcher, who said his over-riding concern was that no-one would be harmed in the context of what was transpiring over the last 48 hours.”Mr Martin said no-one wants to go back to the divisions of the past and the “trauma” experienced at the Garvagh Road.Asked about Sinn Féin calls for Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant to overturn the Parades Commission decision to allow an Orange Order march in the area, Mr Martin said: “I would say to Sinn Féin and to everybody else: Time to dial back now and time to engage in dialogue, and to work this out in a sensible, community-based way.“Over the last number of decades, community relations in this area has improved immensely and very significant work has been put in by residents’ groups, by community groups, to develop community relationships, put them on a much more sustainable level.“What’s happening over the last number of days threatens to undermine all of that and I think we have to stand back, have a clear vision as to the future – the future has to be one of engagement, of dialogue, working through these problems as we did in the past, and to avoid the tensions and the trauma and the divisions of the past.”Mr Martin also said it would be a “very retrograde step” for the Drumcree dispute to lead to the collapse of Stormont, adding it would not be in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland.Asked if he was concerned about the future of Stormont, Mr Martin said: “I think it’s very important that the institutions are protected and that all of the parties in the Assembly and on the Executive do not allow what has transpired over the last number of days undermine the institutions.Read More“People have to think ahead and they have to look around corners here and make sure that any actions they take are in the best interests of all of the people on the island of Ireland and in Northern Ireland specifically in terms of the Executive, because the people of Northern Ireland need a government.“There is elections to the Assembly coming within the next year.”Mr Martin reiterated further reform of the Assembly, adding: “No party should have the right to veto the convening of an assembly after an election. So, there are reforms that I believe should happen.“But, in my view, it would be a very retrograde step if anything was done to undermine the institutions, notwithstanding legitimate concerns that people have, and notwithstanding all of the tensions.”