merrion street

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, has welcomed today’s announcement by the Loyalist Community Council of a protocol for the display of flags and emblems.

Minister Flanagan said:
“I welcome today’s announcement by the Loyalist Community Council.

"The display of flags and emblems in Northern Ireland is highly emotive and can at times be divisive, particularly in a society moving on from conflict. I commend the acknowledgement of the need for mutual respect, demonstrated in the development of the protocol, and look forward to these principles being put into practice.
"Discussions on how to build a greater climate of respect for differing traditions in Northern Ireland, and on how to build a shared society, based on parity of esteem, have been at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement and successive Agreements.
"Notwithstanding the progress made since 1998, the realisation that more must be done to develop a truly shared society informed much of our discussions in the Stormont House and Fresh Start talks. Those talks agreed the establishment of a Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition. I look forward to the Commission being established, and beginning its work, in the near future.”