Assembly working group to discuss parades

Six members of the Stormont Assembly have been appointed to the working group that will examine Orange Order parades.

Three members from the Democratic Unionist Party and three members of Sinn Féin will make up the group, which was set up following the agreement on the devolution of policing and justice powers.

Stephen Moutray, Nelson McCausland and Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP and Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly, Michelle Gildernew and John O'Dowd MLA will hold their first meeting tomorrow.

Meanwhile, senior members of the Ulster Unionist Party met to discuss the devolution agreement.

The party opted out of a meeting last Friday in the aftermath of the agreement, but tonight a spokesman said: 'This is an ongoing process. The UUP believes that the devolution of policing and justice is too important to get wrong.

'For that reason, the Ulster Unionist Party will continue to scrutinise this deal until we are in a position to deliver our verdict.'

Elsewhere, the new SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie has nominated Asssembly member and barrister Alban Maginness for the role of Stormont Justice Minister.

Ms Ritchie said it would be inappropriate for her to be nominated for the position.

Alliance Party leader David Ford, who has been tipped for the job, has said his party is not yet in a position to make a nomination for the new role.

Mr Ford said more work needs to be done on progressing a community relations strategy for Northern Ireland.

A meeting of the leaders of Northern Ireland's political parties to consider applications for the post was expected to go ahead today but it has now been put back until tomorrow.