Launching the SDLP’s campaign for effective legislation to control the
display of flags and emblems in North Antrim, MLA Seán Farren said
“The time has come for all of us to grasp the nettle and do what is
clearly necessary to move community relations forward.
“Flags can intimidate, flags can divide. Flags are being used to
mark out sectarian territory, to make a statement of community dominance and community
exclusion. Paramilitary flags are intimidating by their very nature, whether
they have a historic date on them or not. Massive displays of national flags
are also perceived of threatening.
“We have got to find the right balance between celebration of
culture and heritage on the one hand, and intimidation and exclusion on the
other. Unfortunately, the wrong decisions are being made by all the wrong
people. The flags issue is out of society’s control and being left in the hands
of paramilitaries and the worst sectarian elements.
“Government agencies are passing the buck, and the protocol they
agreed two years ago clearly isn’t working, isn’t being implemented.
Ninety-nine percent of flag displays are on public lamp posts or other public
property paid for by all the ratepayers. The police say the flying of
paramilitary flags is a community issue, when it is clearly a crime under the
Terrorism Act. Displays in mixed areas are covered by breach of the peace
legislation, but there is absolutely no consistency in police enforcement on
this issue.
“People using public spaces or visiting public buildings should
not have massive flag displays imposed on them. People should not have to live in fear. We are proposing simple, common-sense measures to deal with this
whole issue. These proposals are a threat to no one, to no culture or heritage.
We make no proposals about what people may fly from their own property because
it is the public space that is our concern. As a first step we invite people to
raise their concerns with us and with the agencies which should be taking
responsibility.”