A SENIOR Orangeman who will address senators in the Irish Parliament next month has admitted such an historic initiative would have been previously “unthinkable”.
Orange Order Grand Secretary Drew Nelson has been invited to speak in the Seanad – the Republic’s upper house – on July 3.
While the loyal institution has lobbied government ministers in Dublin in the past, Mr Nelson’s appearance will be the first time an Orange figure has formally addressed senior politicians in the south.
Speaking to the News Letter yesterday, Mr Nelson confirmed he would be accepting the invitation, proposed by Seanad leader Maurice Cummins.
The Orangeman insisted the Order has built up a “good working relationship” with the government in the Republic and this latest initiative was a “natural progression” of that.
However, he admitted that such a symbolic gesture would not always have been possible.
“I think it is not too strong to say that even 10 years ago the door would not have been open to us,” he said.
“I think it is a sign of changes, mainly in the attitude of the government in the Republic, for this invitation to be issued.
“It is almost unthinkable that this invite would have been issued up until a few years ago, and it shows how society is changing in the Republic.”
Mr Nelson declined to divulge on the likely content of his speech, but stressed that he would be open with the assembled audience.
“I am going there to represent honestly the views of our institution,” he said.
“For the Order’s relationship to be genuine with government and statutory agencies in the south it has to be an honest one. If that means saying things which are uncomfortable, then that has to be done.”
The Orange Order has been working closely with successive Irish governments for a number of years, lobbying on behalf of its members and the wider Protestant community in the Republic. The institution has 50 lodges across nine counties in the south.
Earlier this year, a delegation of Orangemen and members of the Royal Black Preceptory met Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore to air fears over the reduction of funding for Protestant schools in border counties, as well as other issues.
The Order also built up a relationship with ex-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern regarding the opening a new heritage centre at the site of the Battle of the Boyne in Co Meath.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin hailed Mr Nelson’s scheduled address as an “important step forward”.
Earlier this week, UUP leader Mike Nesbitt became the first unionist leader to speak at the Irish Parliament when he appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee at Leinster House.
See Morning View, page 22