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The Northern Ireland Assembly will be told on Monday that the “issue of unwanted Orange Order marches on the Garvaghy Road is closed”, a Sinn Féin minister has said.

Upper Bann MLA and Finance Minister John O’Dowd accused unionist leaders of a “dangerous attempt” to reignite the Drumcree issue.

Last week the Orange Order announced that it has made an application for a “limited” parade along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

The Parades Commission will have to rule on the latest application for 60 order members to take part in the proposed Drumcree parade on Sunday, September 27.

The commission, which adjudicates on contentious parades in Northern Ireland, was heavily criticised by unionist politicians and the Orange Order after a High Court ruling last month that quashed its most recent determination over the Drumcree parade.

High Court Judge Mr Justice McAlinden referred to “errors”, “shortcuts”, and “sloppy procedures” in the approach of the commission to making its determination.

The Parades Commission has blocked the order from marching along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown in July every year since 1998.

Unionist politicians have called for the resignation of the commissioners, including chairwoman Professor Evelyn Collins, after the ruling.

One commissioner, Billy Gamble, who had attracted criticism, has resigned but the chairwoman has remained in post.

Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant has ordered a judge-led review into how the Parades Commission makes its decisions.

The Northern Ireland Assembly will return from its summer recess on Monday, and Mr O’Dowd said Drumcree would be one of the issues discussed by MLAs.

He said: “The people of Garvaghy Road do not want this march forced through their area.

“It is a march steeped in a history of hate, sectarian violence, and murder.

“The Garvaghy Road residents deserve to live in peace and to be able to get on with their lives, without this shadow of intimidation and fear hanging over them. Their wishes must be respected.

“Twenty-eight years of peace is not a problem that requires a solution. It is this progress that needs protection.”

He added: “What we have seen in recent weeks is a dangerous attempt by unionist leaders to reignite the closed issue of an unwanted march on Garvaghy Road.

“Sinn Féin stands fully with the Garvaghy Road community.

“Tomorrow in the Assembly I will make it clear that the issue of unwanted Orange Order marches on the Garvaghy Road is closed.”

The stand-off at Drumcree made headlines in the 1990s, with nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road resolutely opposed to the parade passing through the area, leading to violent clashes for several summers and political tension necessitating a major security operation.

The Orange Order has unsuccessfully applied for more than a quarter of a century to complete its 1998 walk along its traditional route.

Unionist politicians have argued that the rights of the order members have been denied by the commission.