ALLIANCE has welcomed in principle the new powers that have been granted to the Parades Commission.
“After the massive problems in Ardoyne last year, Alliance lobbied the Government to produce legislation that will allow the Parades Commission to have greater control over parade followers and protesters.
“While the detail has yet to be examined, Alliance welcomes in principle the strengthening and clarification of the law surrounding parades, protests and the associated supporters.
“The whole point of the Parades Commission was to take these controversial decisions out of the PSNI’s hands, and unless action had been taken, the police would have remained a political football over the marching season.”