Debate contribution: Display of Flags and Emblems Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Ms Kate Nicholl on .
- MLA
- Ms Kate Nicholl
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 7 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- Display of Flags and Emblems Bill: Second Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5670711
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for giving way. I am struck by the point that he makes. He is obviously proud of his great-great-grandfather, and that historical flag has a specific meaning for him. Does he agree, however, that the meaning that it has for him will be very different from that that it has for someone who was a victim of the UVF and who sees a different meaning behind that flag? One of the biggest issues with living in a post-conflict society is that symbols mean so many different things to different people. At the moment, people feel intimidated and feel that territory is being demarcated at different times, so we have to find a way forward in order to deal with that. My colleague is not trying to manufacture grievance. We try to pin things on people and imply that their intent is not what it is, but I know exactly why the Member has introduced the Bill, and it is to try to make our society shared and better and for it to respect all cultures. To misapply the reason behind the Bill could create more grievance and tension. Does the Member accept that?
197 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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