Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

SDLP REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE NATIONAL FLAG EQUALITY ISSUE DISAPPOINTING

Published: 9 May, 2009

Sinn Féin Councillor Pat Mc Ginn has said that the recent refusal by the SDLP to vote for the flying of the Irish national flag at an all Ireland sports championship in Newry had caused great disappointment within the community. "The SDLP have described their decision to allow the playing of the national anthem whilst banning the flying of the national flag as some type of "reasonable compromise", however this is totally misleading and a denial of equality as the Council have, in the past, agreed to allow similar displays."

The Councillor continued, "The Chief Executive of our Council openly acknowledged, at the recent meeting which discussed this issue, that Newry and Mourne Council have on occasions permitted the playing of the British national anthem and the flying of the union flag in council owned properties. These events were deemed appropriate for such things to take place and, in a spirit of tolerance, promotion of respect for diversity, agreement was made amongst all parties including the SDLP and the Unionists to permit the setting aside of the policy to allow the flying of appropriate flags and the playing of national anthems. Amongst those attending some of these events were senior Council Officials and Newry and Mourne Councillors. I myself in my position as Mayor of Newry and Mourne attended events where the Union Flag was on display. The SDLP refused to afford that same spirit of tolerance and promotion of respect for diversity by their refusal to support the request from this Irish National Sporting Body to fly the national flag in our Sports Centre at a special event.

The issue presented to the Council in relation to this request was not about compromise, it was about equality. It was about Newry and Mourne Council treating the request to fly the Irish national flag in one of their buildings at an appropriate event in a similar way to those which required the flying of the Union Flag and the playing of the British national anthem."

The Councillor concluded by stating that he had been extremely disappointed that a sports competition had become such a focus of attention and he regretted that the matter had been deliberately brought into the public domain for short-term political gain. "Those who purposely and very publicly highlighted this issue should never have equated the request to fly the Irish national flag and play the national anthem to that of the complex and diverse issues related to the flying of flags and displaying of emblems, here in the north" said the Councillor