Alliance Party's Paula Bradshaw has said that she seeks to "deliver the right balance" as she launches a new Private Members Bill calling for regulation of the flying of flags and emblems from street furniture.
The South Belfast MLA was speaking as she launched the 12-week public consultation into her Private Member’s Bill, which seeks to set out a framework for the legal display of flags and emblems on street furniture.
The Private Members Bill seeks to build upon the recommendations of the £800,000 report from the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition (FICT) which was published in 2021 and has yet to be implemented by the Executive.
“This is an issue which is frequently raised with my office,” Paula Bradshaw said.
“My proposed legislation seeks to deliver the right balance – recognising the right to express identity and culture while ensuring symbols displayed for the purpose of intimidation or exclusion are swiftly removed.
“The display of intentionally exclusive flags in new housing estates and the erection of posters expressing racial hatred over the past few months only reinforce the need to act on this issue. The report of the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition offers a clear road map upon which my proposed legislation seeks to build.
“At heart, this is fundamentally about ensuring Northern Ireland is a society in which the freedom to express identity is respected and promoted, but so is the right to live free from intimidation and discrimination in any form.
"I would urge anyone, regardless of their views, to respond to the consultation so we can build a piece of law which will address the issue comprehensively, while respecting the necessarily varying interests of a diverse society."
The public consultation can be accessed here.
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