MEP comments on House of Lords ruling
01 February 2008
Statement by Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister:-
"Flowing from today's House of Lords decision on the composition of the Parades Commission, are parallel questions for the appointment of Ms McBride by OFMDFM to the Victims Commission. Her antecedents as a partisan activist, on behalf of interests associated with the perpetrators of terror, suggest that she will have difficulty bringing (in Lord Bingham's words) "an objective or impartial judgement", which he deemed essential to such public service.
Thus, I am calling on the First Minister to urgently review her appointment in light of the strictures and approach in the Duffy judgement. Likewise, the Secretary of State should revisit the appointment of the Human Rights Commission, since therein Unionist interests are marginalised.
In my view the House of Lords has set a dangerous precedent, but it is one which now must be reflected across the board and not just used as a vehicle to do down the Orange tradition."
Released: 30th January 2008
