A new initiative from the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, aimed at ensuring that this summer's marching season passes off relatively peacefully, as it did last year, has prompted an initially positive response from republican and loyalist organisations.
Mr Murphy will meet the various parties, community organisations, and umbrella groups, including those with representatives from the UDA and UVF, in an effort to subdue the sectarian tensions that regularly flare up during the holiday period.
Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams, in a separate initiative, appointed Assembly members Mr Gerry Kelly and Mr Alex Maskey to similarly engage with political and civic representatives to try to ensure a peaceful summer. The British government has taken heart from Mr Adams's announcement and from the initial loyalist reaction. London had feared that such was the extent of Sinn Féin and loyalist anger over the Independent Monitoring Commission's recent findings that they would not co-operate with this process.
A similar initiative by Northern Ireland Office ministers last year resulted in one of the calmest summers in years.
Controversially, however, Mr Murphy and junior minister Mr Ian Pearson are prepared to meet - as NIO ministers did last year - the Loyalist Commission and the Ulster Political Research Group.
The commission includes politicians, churchmen and paramilitary representatives from the UDA, UVF and Red Hand Commando, while the UPRG speaks for the UDA.
