Union Flags Approved For Government Buildings

Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has confirmed that the union flag will be flown at five buildings under his department's control.

The Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) has approved the move.

Four DFP buildings already fly the flag: Academy House in Ballymena, Colby House in Belfast, Queen's Court, Queen's Street and the Craigantlet Buildings at Stormont.

The buildings which will now fly the flag are the DoE offices on College Street, Goodwood House and Victoria Hall on May Street, Clare House on Airport Road West and Rosepark House in east Belfast.

A department spokesperson said discretion is given to fly the union flag at government buildings on specified days.

"The Finance Minister has confirmed he wants the Department to fly the union flag at buildings where we have Premises responsibility," the spokesperson said.

The estimated cost to fly the flag at all five buildings could be as much as £10,000, according to the Department. This depends on "the complexity of works required at each site - location of flagpole, structural issues, site preparation works required etc."

The move follows months of loyalist protests against Belfast City Council's decision on 3 December last year to limit the days when the union flag can fly above City Hall.

It had previously flown all year round, but will now only be erected on 'designated days' throughout the year.

Sinn Féin MLA for North Antrim and party spokesperson on the economy Daithí McKay described Mr Wilson's announcement as "deliberately provocative".

"There are extremely pressing issues to be dealt with by the Assembly such as the fiasco around the closure of care homes, the Welfare Reform Bill or creating jobs and employment," he said.

"All of these are worthy of spending public money on."

He continued: "In recent weeks officials from the Department of Finance were in front the Finance and Personnel committee at Stormont explaining that they could not even carry out proper assessment of public sector pension reforms due to the fact that it would cost £10,000 yet the Finance minister can spend that exact amount of money on a divisive pet project.

"Instead of giving issues like this priority the DUP Minister has placed a party political project first.

"On the surface this move appears to breach the Flags Order and Sinn Féin will be seeking legal advice on the matter and in particular on the equality impact that this move could have."

(IT/MH)