DUP obfuscation on Stormont Flag exposed
04 December 2012
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister
"After the outcry from those attending the massive Ulster Day Centenary celebration at Stormont about the absence of the Union flag from Parliament Buildings on that day, the DUP, from the First Minister down, sought to pass the blame onto the Secretary of State, blaming the Direct Rule legislation from 2000 on flags.
"I knew this was an empty excuse and that Stormont itself - which the DUP likes to boasts it controls - had the power to determine when the flag flies.
"Today by an oral Question to the Assembly Commission I had it confirmed that the 2000 Flag Regulations Order, with its designated days, does not apply by law to Parliament Buildings, but rather, the Asembly Commission - which has a unionist majority in its voting arrangements - chooses of its own volition to apply the 2000 Regulations, whereas, it could make its own policy and decisions on flying the flag.
"This blows out of the water the DUP pretence that Direct Rule and the NIO are responsible for the Union flag flying only on the designated days at Stormont! It is Stormont itself which so decides. Moreover, it emerged today that despite the public utterances of protest from DUP MLAs, including Mr Peter Robinson, not a single step has been taken to even raise the issue of the absence of the flag on Ulster Day in the Assembly Commission - and, of course, not a single DUP MLA has signed the Assembly motion which I tabled calling for the flying of the flag on Ulster Day - only David McNarry, David McClarty and representatives of the UUP have added their names.
"One of the most startling revelations today from the Commission is that it is not the NIO, but OFMDFM which annually notifies them of the designated days they have decided on! So, again, the DUP, it seems is right at the heart of the decision-making on what days the flag flies.
"It is, therefore, time the DUP came clean on this issue, particularly given the circumstances of the removal of the Union flag from City Hall, while all the time they do nothing to increase the flying of the flag at Stormont."
