DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson condemned the burning of Irish tricolour flags on a number of “Eleventh Night” bonfires in Northern Ireland.
Sir Jeffrey told the BBC: “I don’t want to see election posters or flags burnt on bonfires. I think we can celebrate our culture and our tradition in a respectful way.
“Respect is a two-way street; if you want to gain respect for your traditions and culture you’ve got to show respect for the traditions, culture and symbols of other communities.”
Sir Jeffrey said work needed to continue to address safety issues around the size of some of the bonfires.
“I think we need to continue working with those who organise bonfires to look at safety issues and to look at the height of bonfires, where they are located. In the end, public safety is absolutely paramount when it comes to this.”
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with a “significant increase” in emergency calls to bonfire-related incidents this year.
More than 230 Eleventh Night bonfires were lit across the north between Friday and Sunday nights.
While the NIFRS said it was “exceptionally busy” over the weekend, it also confirmed there were no attacks on fire service personnel.
The NIFRS said firefighters had been required to take direct action to protect properties from heat caused by bonfires.
