Northern Ireland

UUP threatens to walk out of commission on flags and bonfires

Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann
Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann

THE Ulster Unionist Party has threatened to walk away from a Stormont body set up to address flags and bonfire issues after accusing Sinn Féin of "undermining" its work.

The Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition (FICT) was formed in 2016 under the DUP and Sinn Féin's 'Fresh Start' agreement to make recommendations on dealing with the divisive issues.

The 15-member panel includes political and non-political appointees, and is due to complete its final report later this year.

It's understood the FICT commission is next week set to discuss calls to suspend its work.

A suspension proposal is understood to have been put forward by UUP MLA Doug Beattie, the party's representative on the panel.

Mr Beattie did not respond to requests for a comment. The UUP also declined to comment.

But yesterday, UUP leader Robin Swann issued a statement saying he had written to the leaders of the DUP, Sinn Féin, SDLP and Alliance to express concern that FICT's work "is being systematically undermined".

He said this was particularly shown last week when with Mid Ulster council voted to introduce a bonfire licensing scheme – a decision supported by nationalist parties but criticised by unionists.

Mr Swann said: "The commission was formed with the intention of lifting culture and identity out of politics.

"However, it seems that one party has been running a parallel track, most clearly evidenced when the issue of licensing bonfires was brought before Mid Ulster council last week.

"I have made it clear to the other party leaders that if such political expediency continues then I cannot guarantee the Ulster Unionist Party's continued participation in the commission as its work will end up totally undermined."

Last week loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson published details of some of FICT's draft recommendations after documents were leaked to him.

The bonfire proposals include making dry wood exempt from being considered controlled waste, in the hope that landowners could then set critieria to regulate pyres.

For bonfires on public land, there would be a six-week limit on material collections; a ban on offensive displays; and at least a 1:5 ratio of bonfire height to distance from physical structures such as houses.

The flags proposals include requiring people to give notification of their intention to erect flags on public property.

There would also be guidelines on what flags would be allowed and the acceptable time period for displaying them.

Publishing the details, Mr Bryson had warned unionists against any de-facto licensing schemes and called on the DUP and UUP to have the commission "suspended".

FICT said its report is "not yet completed and no recommendations have been agreed".

Asked about the suggested suspension of its work, it did not respond.

Sinn Fein councillor Deirdre Hargey said that "leadership on these issues needs to come from unionist politicians and from within the community"adding "Robin Swann has a responsibility to step up to the plate rather than kow-towing to a small minority who have no respect for anyone.

"It is the ratepayers and the taxpayers who have to foot the cost of this, year in and year out, despite many of these bonfires being built against the wishes of local communities.

"If the law is being broken the relevant statutory bodies have a duty to act and deal with unacceptable bonfires."