The leader of the DUP has said one Parades Commission resignation “does not cut it” after one of the commissioners resigned over the handling of its ruling on the Orange Order’s Drumcree parade.
The commission has until the end of the day to write to Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant, to ensure him that their decision making processes are fair.
The commission has been asked to come up with a credible plan to enhance public confidence across all communities after a court case highlighted mistakes over the ruling on the annual parade.
Gavin Robinson said the matter was “far from resolved” and that Sir Chris has a responsibility to look at whether he has confidence in the parade commissioners.
One member of the Commission, Billy Gamble, who had faced the most public criticism over private comments he is alleged to have made about the parade determination, resigned on Thursday.
On Thursday the chair of the commission, Prof Evelyn Collins, said she would not resign but the commission would work hard to regain the trust of all sections of the community.
The DUP leader said he will “will await with interest to see how it is these parade commissioners believe they are going to restore confidence”.
“They have shattered it, they are the ones that have failed to abide by their statutory obligations,” he told BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster on Friday.
“The secretary of state still has a responsibility to look at whether he has confidence, not whether the Parades Commission has confidence with me or the unionist community, but whether he has confidence that these individuals he is paying for have the ability to do their job and there are huge question marks around that,” Robinson said.
He said there needs to be a review of the legislation governing the Parades Commission.
Although the commission has been given a deadline of Friday evening to present the Secretary of State with a plan to rebuild public confidence, it may be next week before Sir Chris Bryant decides whether he is satisfied it will work.
At this stage, he is not expected to make an immediate decision.
The Orange Order has called for the resignation of the chair and commissioners.
“There is no confidence in anyone who has overseen this,” the Portadown District said on Friday.
Portadown District also wants a “formal, external and independent review, ideally led by a retired Judge, into the Commission’s conduct in this case and more generally and we look to the Secretary of State to deliver this”.
“Put simply it’s one down, more to go,” the statement said.
Portadown District said it is “ready and willing to engage in mediation- either directly or through representatives we authorise- without any pre-conditions”.
