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(26/01/2007)
Media Release

Flags survey confirms territory still being marked out in N.I. (full report in PDF format)

A survey of flags being flown on main roads in Northern Ireland conducted by Queen's University, confirms that flags are still being used to mark out territory but progress on the flags and emblems issue has been made.

The Flags Monitoring Project 2006 undertaken by the Institute of Irish Studies at Queen's and funded by the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, set out to see how much people took responsibility for flags and other emblems displayed over the summer months and how many flags were then left.

Two significant surveys were undertaken in 2006, one at the start of July, the second in mid-September during the period covering the Loyal Order marching season and the 25th Anniversary of the Hunger Strikes. Results show that when displays were placed in areas people took responsibility for, such as on private houses or on Orange Halls and around Orange Arches, then the flags and bunting were nearly always taken down. However, there were large numbers of flags left flying at the end of September on major road routes all over Northern Ireland. By far the greatest number of flags was displayed on lampposts and at the end of the summer 2499 flags and emblems remained on display.

Dr Dominic Bryan at the Institute of Irish Studies said: "We are aware that there has been much work undertaken in communities to try and reduce the flying of flags to periods in which commemorations and celebrations are taking place. These surveys demonstrate that a large number of flags are being left on lampposts to apparently mark territories. At the same time there is increasing evidence that such marking of territories is economically detrimental to the affected area.

"There is also evidence of a reduction in the flying of paramilitary flags in recent years. The initial survey in July 2006 recorded only 194 flags at main roads but just 17% of these came down by mid September".

For further information please contact: Brendan Heaney, Communications Office Tel: 028 9097 5320 or Dominic Bryan 028 9097 3386.

Notes for Editors:

Interviews with Dr Bryan can be arranged through the Communications Office.

The Government's policy of a Shared Future sets as one of its major aims 'freeing the public realm from threat, aggression and intimidation while allowing for legitimate expression of cultural expression, creating safe and shared space for meeting, sharing, playing, working and living'.

Since 2005 the PSNI have led a multi-agency joint-protocol in relation to the display of flags which calls for the removal of flags and emblems from arterial routes, town centres and areas such as interfaces, schools, hospitals and places of worship. This is to be done, as much as possible, with the support of communities.

The full report in PDF format can be viewed at
http://www.qub.ac.uk/iis/news/Flags-monitoring.pdf
or by visiting
http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/index/equality/equalityresearch/research-publications/gr-pubs.htm