Debate contribution: Bonfire Regulation
Debate contribution by Ms Aisling Reilly on .
- MLA
- Ms Aisling Reilly
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 22 September 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Bonfire Regulation
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5123577
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The issues around cultural expression are some of the most challenging that we as a society face here. The Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition (FICT) considered those issues and made a number of recommendations relating to bonfires. They have been considered as part of the review of the Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) strategy that we are actively working through with officials. We recognise and understand the potential for bonfires to have environmental implications, alongside health and safety concerns, and we know that bonfires can be used to display offensive messages, flags, effigies and other materials that cause offence. We want to be very clear that there is no room for sectarian or racial intolerance towards individuals and acts of intimidation have no place in our society. We remain committed to building a peaceful and inclusive shared future for all.
143 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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