Union flag notflown due to rule

THE Union Flag was not flown at Stormont on the centenary of the signing of the Ulster Covenant because it would have breached the small print of a series of flag regulations introduced twelve years ago.

By The Newsroom

Published 1st Nov 2012, 13:57 BST

The date of the centenary was not included in a Flags Regulations (NI) Order 2000, according to SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey.

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MLA Jim Allister queried its absence at Stormont on September 29, 2012.

Mr Ramsey as Representative of the Assembly Commission, stated: “The Assembly Commission’s policy is to fly the Union Flag at Parliament Buildings on the dates specified within the Flags Regulations (NI) Order 2000. Those dates do not include the 29th September 2012.”

Earlier this year the Sentinel revealed the diehard Sinn Féin desire to see the Irish tricolour hoisted at Stormont was to be considered by a the Assembly Commission, which includes Londonderry MLAs William Hay and Pat Ramsey.

Jim Allister