Theresa Villiers appoints a new Parades Commission

SECRETARY of State Theresa Villiers has announced five new appointments to the Parades Commission.

She has appointed Anne Henderson as chair of the commission to replace Peter Osborne.

Sarah Havlin, Colin Kennedy, Frances McCartney and Glyn Roberts have been appointed as members and will take up their posts on January 1, 2014.

Ms Villiers said she was “confident” that the new team would make a valuable contribution to the work of the Parades Commission.

“I very much hope that the Haass talks will lead to a locally agreed means of adjudicating contentious parades in the future,” she said.

“But in the meantime, the Parades Commission remains the legally constituted body responsible for determining these matters and the new chair and members appointed today will have important work to carry out in the months ahead.”

The Parades Commission was established in 1997 to issue determinations on proposed parades which proved controversial.

The Secretary of State added: “The new commission will continue to engage with local communities and parading organisations to encourage local dialogue and locally agreed solutions on contentious parades.

“I strongly encourage everyone in Northern Ireland with an interest in parading to work with the commission to ensure their voice is heard.”