Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
The word "offended" is referenced. I have listened to the debate — I did not listen on the previous day — but I am offended that the Union flag is not referenced in the Bill. Does that mean that we in Northern Ireland cannot fly the Union flag because of the Bill. Conversation over.
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorialsCriteria met: Identity framing, Cultural grievance politics, Controversy escalation.
My reading of the Bill, unless I am wrong, is that there is no exemption for the place of worship or the school that decides to fly the flag, because clause 2(1) states: "The Department may regard the following as a sensitive place—". You can presume that to mean outside those places, but it is not specific, so a flag…
The other issue, and in the same vein, is that clause 2 refers to "a place of worship" or, indeed, a "school". Quite a number of our schools have flags flying inside. Are we therefore saying that, on the designated days when they are permitted by law to fly the flag, that now becomes an offence because somebody is…
Following from my colleague from North Antrim's intervention and the Member's reference to a bandstand, how can the Bill give legal power for DFI to go to land that is in third-party ownership and take a flag down? Are you as confused about that as I am?
I thank the Member for giving way. The Bill states: "The Department must remove a flag or emblem that is attached to public street furniture". That is irrespective of who is responsible for it or who owns it. The Bill is clear on that, and that is just one part of why it is so dangerous.
What we have here is, once again, the thought police on patrol. They are out and about, telling MLAs what they should and should not think and saying to members of the public, "This is good legislation. We're going to police how you think". What I mean by that is that what I think about putting up a flag and the…
FlaggedFlags, emblems, symbols, names and memorialsCriteria met: Identity framing, Sectarian or communal antagonism, Cultural grievance politics, Dog-whistle messaging, Controversy escalation.
I appreciate the Member's giving way. He talks to the more fundamental point that is missed in the Bill. The Terrorism Act 2000 specifically states that the flags of proscribed organisations should be removed. That was strengthened recently in legislation through Parliament. The Bill would not have the ability to…
First of all, I am not proposing new offences. I am not proposing new absolute duties on the Department for Infrastructure. You have just posed a good question. There are terrorist flags in our country that the Police Service refuses to take down. Ms Bradshaw admitted that the problem was not the lack of law but the…
I said that Mr O'Toole was an eminently educated man. He has posed the dilemma extremely well. Here is the nub: we have got into the habit in this place of saying, "There's a problem" and then saying about something that does not solve it, "Well, there's the solution. You have to vote for the Bill", even though the…
First, I would not describe any part of my consistency as being nicer than another; I am proud of every street that I represent, whether the people choose to fly flags or not. As always, the Member is putting in an enthusiastic, spirited performance of his shtick. If you drive from here to my constituency of South…
I thank the Member for giving way. Does he agree that too much is being seen as, "Let's just put down the general idea of a Bill, throw it to the Committee and let the Committee work out the details"? There does not seem to have been an awful lot of thought given to the detail of how this will work.
You were not in the Chamber for the whole debate. I suggested that the Committee might look at situations in which there had been a determination that flags should come down. The Committee may seek to do that within a reasonable time. I have addressed that.
On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I do not go by "Mrs Bradshaw". I am married to a man called Mr Parsley. I am Ms Bradshaw. I had to tolerate it in the previous debate, but if anyone is referring to me, I would appreciate their calling me "Ms Bradshaw". I am not "Mrs Bradshaw"; that was my mother.…
A worthy objective is no substitute for workable law. There is some nobility in the objective of Ms Bradshaw's private Member's Bill. We have too many flags. Often, those flags are too tattered. We have too many areas that are demarcated by individuals. We have the scandal that, all these years after the Belfast…
I thank the Member for giving way. What he is doing here is demonstrating the difference between requiring legislation to do something and community consent to do something. He is quite right to identify the work that has been done in north Belfast, which has been led and agreed by the community, not a determination…
Does the Member agree that what is relevant is that the Alliance Party was the enabler of Belfast City Council's 15% threshold for Irish language street signs? Some may rightly ask whether that is the kind of threshold that it is looking at having through this legislation.
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policyCriteria met: Controversy escalation.