To ask the Minister for Regional Development for his assessment of the current flags protocol.

My Department does not approve of, or support, the unauthorised use of departmental property for any purpose, however, as the Member will appreciate, the removal of sectarian motivated signs and emblems, including flags, is a matter that needs to be treated with sensitivity. The Department also has to take into account the safety of those who are asked to undertake the removal. The risk of escalating the problem also needs to be taken into consideration.

The Department has signed up to the multi-agency Protocol on the Display of Flags in Public Areas, which was introduced in April 2005. Under the Protocol, my Department’s Roads Service will, when called upon by the lead Agency, provide the access equipment and resources to assist in the removal of unwanted flags, once agreement has been reached with the local community.

Unauthorised memorials on the property of the Department’s arms- length bodies are matters for the Boards of those organisations, bearing in mind their responsibilities for safety and statutory obligations to promote good relations between people of different religious beliefs or political persuasions.

While the current protocol has been helpful, I welcome its review, which is being led by OFMDFM and is currently ongoing. Roads Service will, of course, be participating in the review.