Lagan Valley TUV Westminster candidate Keith Harbinson has called on the government to stop dragging their heels and to publish the draft legislation concerning parading.  Mr Harbinson said:

“We have already seen the devolution of policing and justice powers delivered via the Hillsborough Castle Agreement, but what about the delivery of the review of parading?  We were told by the Sinn Fein/DUP working group that we would see the draft legislation prior to any concrete devolution, indeed did this not form part of Peter Robinson’s clever device? Yet some almost 10 days after the event we are still waiting to see any form of result.

“The Hillsborough Castle Agreement explicitly set out a timetable of delivery, which would see completion of the drafting by the end of March, yet by the middle of April no such draft legislation appears to be forthcoming.  The Draft Bill was to be published to facilitate a period of consultation from the end of March / beginning of April, but again no such consultation can begin without the draft legislation. One really has to question the inordinate delay given the promises of delivery that have been made and continual assurances that it is on its way.

“We have, as have the Loyal Orders, consistently said that we shall reserve judgment until we have the opportunity to evaluate the Draft Bill, but with the mechanics of Policing and Justice Devolution already well advanced, we feel that the people of Northern Ireland should be afforded such an opportunity forthwith, and certainly prior to the General Election.  The outlined framework is simply not enough to allow the detailed level of scrutiny that this legislation will warrant, and as we approach the commencement of the annual parades I call on the government to ensure the immediate release of this Draft Bill to provide all stakeholders with some reassurance that these matters are being dealt with in the short term.”