21 March 2000

---

Sinn Fein asks Lord Mayor for Dublin City Council Protocol Committee meeting on Orange Order invitation

The leader of the Sinn Fein Group on Dublin City Council has asked the Lord Mayor to make her invitation to the Orange Order to march in the capital on 28 May a priority issue at the next meeting of the council's Protocol Committee. Leaders of all the council's political groups are represented on the Protocol Committee.

Councillor Christy Burke, leader of the Sinn Fein Group, said there is also a serious question mark over the sincerity of the claims by the Orange Order in Dublin that a low-key event was planned. George Patton said today on behalf of the Orange Order leadership in Belfast that the event will involve Orangemen and bands from all over the North, England and Scotland.

``The Orange Order is certainly singing from two different hymn sheets on this one,'' Councillor Burke said. He added:

``Sinn Fein is seeking clarification from the Lord Mayor as to just what has been agreed with the Orange Order.

``It is hard not to believe that the Orange Order is using this event to bolster their demand to be allowed to bulldoze their way down the Garvaghy Road in July. The Orange Order that wants to march in Dublin is the very same Orange Order that is laying siege to Garvaghy Road and seeking to impose its will on nationalist communities throughout the Six Counties.'' ENDS

---

Sinn Fein Press Office, 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Tel: +353-1-8726100 and +353-1-8726839   ·   Fax +353-1-8733074
E-mail: sinnfein@irlnet.com   ·   Website: http://www.sinnfein.org

---

Sinn Fein   ·   Sinn Fein Documents

---