Debate contribution: Display of Flags and Emblems Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Mrs Deborah Erskine on .
- MLA
- Mrs Deborah Erskine
- 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 5740069
Read the official Assembly record
Text
You are creating new scenarios as a result of that. I have said clearly that there are people who cannot stand the sight of a Union flag, no matter where it flies in Northern Ireland. We have mentioned places of worship, and I outlined examples that would be given. That is a concern of mine. That is why I cannot support the Bill. I am happy to give way to Mr Brooks.
72 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.41 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- Criteria met: Identity framing (0.77); Cultural grievance politics (0.70).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.39).
- Subject area: Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials.
- The overall probability was low and the text did not adopt any identity-based framing.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.77 | Yes |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.10 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.70 | Yes |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.19 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.47 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.46 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.41 | Between thresholds |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.39 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.23 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.07 |
| Adopts it | 0.31 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.88 |
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.08 |
| Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice) | 0.04 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 16:38 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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