The Parades Commission is a quasi-judicial non-departmental public body responsible for placing restrictions on any parades in Northern Ireland it deems contentious or offensive.[3] It is composed of seven members, all of whom are appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Restrictions it can impose include a prohibition on music being played, re-routing parades to avoid contentious areas, or banning certain participants based on previous breaches of its determinations. Its rulings are usually enforced by either parade stewards or the police, though there are disputes as to whether this is done to the letter of the law in certain areas.
 | |
| Formation | 1 April 1998 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-departmental public body |
| Headquarters | Andras House 60 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7BB[1] |
Chair | Anne Henderson |
| Staff | 13 (2024/25)[2]: 28 |
| Website | www |
Parade organisers and participants are liable to arrest and prosecution for breaching any of the commission's rulings, although no-one has been charged since the commission was established in 1998.[citation needed] A section 6(7) offence has a maximum punishment of six months imprisonment or level five on the standard scale.
The commission was set up after the large-scale civil strife that followed the Drumcree conflict over an Orange Order parade in Portadown. It has come under strong criticism from the Order. The Grand Lodge of the Order has a policy of non-engagement with the commission, although some private and district lodges, particularly those with contentious parades, have agreed to talk to it.[citation needed]
Legislation
edit| Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998[a] | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act to amend the law relating to public processions in Northern Ireland; to provide for the establishment and functions of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland; and for connected purposes. |
| Citation | 1998 c. 2 |
| Territorial extent | Northern Ireland[b] |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 February 1998 |
| Commencement | 2 March 1998[c] |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
| Text of the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The commission acts under the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (c. 2).[4][3] The purpose of the legislation was to remove Secretaries of State of Northern Ireland from the process of deciding whether a parade should go ahead.[5]
The 1998 act was amended by the Public Processions (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005.[6] The 2005 order amended the 1998 act to include supporters of parades and rather than just participants and organisers of parades.[6] The 2005 order also amended the 1998 act to give the commission authority over parades-related protests.[7]
Commissioners
editAs of April 2021, the commissioners are:[8]
- Graham Forbes (chair)
- Joelle Black
- Derek Wilson
- Marian Cree
- Eimear McAllister
- Billy Gamble
See also
editNotes
edit- ↑ Section 19(1).
- ↑ Section 19(5).
- ↑ Section 19(2)–(4). The Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (Commencement) Order 1998.
References
edit- ↑ "Contact Us". Parades Commission.
- ↑ "Northern Ireland Parades Commission Annual Report". Northern Ireland Parades Commission. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- 1 2 Kelly, James (8 July 2023). "Drumcree: The Garvaghy Road dispute 25 years on". BBC News. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ "Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Act 1998", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1998 c. 2
- ↑ Devenport, Mark (9 August 2013). "Banning parades - why semicolons matter". BBC News. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- 1 2 "THE UNITED KINGDOM" (PDF). EuroMed Rights. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ Bell, John (2007). "Parades and Protests: An Annotated Bibliography" (PDF). CAIN Archive. Conflict and Politics in Northern Ireland. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ "Commission - Northern Ireland Parades Commission". www.paradescommission.org. Retrieved 9 April 2021.