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23 November 2012

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Vote to remove Belfast City Hall Union Jack

'Sinn Féin wants to see a City Hall that is inclusive and welcoming to every citizen and every tradition.'

A BELFAST CITY COUNCIL committee has recommended that the Union flag (the ‘Union Jack’) is no longer flown from Belfast City Hall.

The recommendation – passed by a vote of 11 to 9 on Friday by the Strategic and Policy Resources Committee – includes the Ulster Hall and the Duncrue complex, both council properties.

The recommendation now goes to a full meeting of Belfast City Council on 3 December.

At the moment, the Union flag is flown from City Hall every day.

Sinn Féin has campaigned for a neutral flag or none at all as a sign that Belfast is an inclusive city.

Sinn Féin Councillor Jim McVeigh said the vote by the council’s Strategic and Policy Resources Committee today on the flying of the Union Jack is an important step in making Belfast City Hall an inclusive place. The west Belfast councillor said:

“Sinn Féin wants to see a City Hall that is inclusive and welcoming to every citizen and every tradition.

“The Union Jack is associated with one tradition in this city and is often used to exclude and intimidate others.

“The decision of the Strategic and Policy Resources Committee today to end the policy of flying the Union Jack is an important step in making Belfast City Hall an inclusive place.”

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Contributions from key figures in the churches, academia and wider civic society as well as senior republican figures

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