Paisley Junior wrong to request increased flying of Union Jack

Daithí McKay

Sinn Féin North Antrim MLA, Daithí McKay has said that the DUP’s Ian Paisley Junior is wrong to request, as he did recently, the increased flying of the Union Jack in the Six Counties.
He said that for nationalists the union flag was a symbol of domination, the imposition of partition and the denial of democracy to the Irish people.
It had also been used as a tool for sectarian coat trailing.
“What was agreed at Castle Buildings at Easter 1998 was about mapping out a framework which would ensure equality and respect from and for all citizens, as well as defending and protesting human rights and civil liberties. In relation to flags and emblems the Agreement was very clear. It demanded that symbols and emblems are used in a manner which promotes mutual respect rather than division”, he said.
“The new power sharing Executive provides a platform for inclusiveness and respect and Ian Paisley Junior’s comments are contradictory to this spirit of a shared future.
“Sinn Féin’s position is clear – where there are British cultural symbols involved in public life in the north, equivalent Irish cultural and political symbols should be given equal prominence. If agreement or consensus cannot be found on this then a reasonable alternative is to suspend the flying of flags until such agreement can be found. In other words and equality scenario or a neutrality scenario”, McKay said.