Unionist politicians have deplored the action of the British government which yesterday strengthened the powers of the Parades Commission so that it will be able to apply restrictions to people supporting or protesting against contentious marches.
The new legislation follows the trouble in Ardoyne on the evening of July 12th last year, when there were serious clashes between supporters of a homeward bound Orange Order parade and local nationalists.
The legislation will be in place by May, in time for the beginning of the main element of the North's annual summer marching season.
It comes after the Quigley review into parades and the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee's (NIAC) investigation into the issue.
A proposal by the Quigley group, however, to create two separate bodies to replace the Parades Commission will not be implemented, the North's security minister, Mr Ian Pearson, said.
Sir Reg Empey of the Ulster Unionist Party said the Parades Commission was "fatally and fundamentally flawed" and that it was "sheer madness to think that adding to this quango's power will produce a peaceful summer."
Sinn Féin's policing spokesman, Mr Gerry Kelly, said he welcomed the fact "that the British government now appears to be moving to deal with the issue of supporters at parades and are taking decision-making on this issue out of the hands of the PSNI".
