AQW 13394/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 14/06/2024
Answered On Date: 22/11/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of the Joint Flags Protocol 2005.

Revised Answer:

At a community level we have seen examples of where the Joint Flags Protocol has worked well, with community organisations working with political representatives and other agencies to find solutions to issues through consensus and discussion.

We recognise, though, that work around flags continues to be one of our society’s challenging issues. Finding consensus on a way forward on such issues can be challenging. However, recent Assembly debates confirm there is shared opposition to offensive displays such as paramilitary flags.

Issues related to flags were considered most recently by the Commission for Flags, Identity, Culture and Traditions (FICT) Commission. We recently agreed that progressing the recommendations of the FICT report would be best placed within the current review of the T:BUC Strategy.