Debate contribution: Display of Flags and Emblems Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Gareth Wilson on 22 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Gareth Wilson
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 22 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Display of Flags and Emblems Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5739503

Text

Thank you. Even with a Minister who is, ideally, fully committed to the Bill's objectives, does the Bill sponsor really think that DFI has the capacity to meet the Bill's objectives in its current format?
Existing laws have obviously been tentatively used, given the real complexity of the issue, with particular reference to flags. There has been much mention of that in the deliberations on the Bill so far.
Do I feel that the Bill in its current format will deliver what the Bill sponsor wishes? No. The reliance on what are clearly wide variables, using terminology such as "opinion" and "public interest", does not reflect the realities and complexities of divided communities. Rather than enable us to heal from or deal with division, the Bill could easily do the opposite, and that is why I will not support it at this stage.

143 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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