Sinn Féin would 'not be hostile' to Dublin Orange Order parade
Sinn Féin has said that it would "not be hostile" to the Orange Order holding a parade in Dublin, but the right to march must be balanced with the rights of community.
Drew Nelson - Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland - today called for an Orange Parade to be held in the capital when he addressed the Seanad.
He said republican resistance to parades has had a corrosive effect on communities in Northern Ireland, and the issue has the potential to explode back onto the headlines.
But Sinn Féin senator David Cullinane said that he had no difficulties with the rights of Orangemen to march:
"What was raised by a number of senators was the need to move away from Orange parades or marches and move towards Orange festivals and if that was the case I think they would enjoy support as well from the various tourism bodies", he said.
"I have no difficulty with the right of Orange men to march, but that has to be balanced against the rights of communities and no doubt if the Orange Order wants to march through the streets of Dublin they will engage with representatives of Dublin City Council".
