Issue of flying tricolour along with other national flags sorted
A PROPOSAL for the Irish flag to be flown outside council offices when other flags are being flown has been approved by South Dublin County councillors.
The topic appeared in The Echo letters page several weeks ago, where Cllr Peter Kavanagh defended the council’s flag policy in response to a constituent’s issue with flags being flown at County Hall without a tricolour also being flown.
At a recent council meeting, Sinn Féin councillor William Carey tabled a motion for the tricolour to be flown at the same time as any other flags that are flown outside council buildings.
In recent months Ukrainian, Palestinian and LGTBQ+ pride flags have been flown outside council offices, but the absence of the Irish flag has been a contentious issue for some.
Explaining his rationale for tabling the motion for the change to council’s flag policy, Cllr Carey said it came about following a conversation with Cllr Eoin Ó Broin in SDCC’s Clondalkin office.
“We noted that there were several flags flying outside the building, but the only flag that wasn’t flying was the national flag,” said Cllr Carey.
“It wasn’t so much that we took offence to it, I always understood it that no flag should fly outside a public building without the national flag. That’s what raised the issue.”
Cllr Carey’s amendment to the council’s flag policy will see the national flag being flown outside council buildings when there are other flags being flown.
The amendment was backed by Cllr Carey’s colleagues in the council chamber, including Cllr Kavanagh, who voted in favour of the amendment to the policy.
“I wrote a letter to The Echo in defence of our extant flag policy, as it was at the time, refuting the idea that the council wasn’t paying due deference and respect to the Irish national flag, but only flying on the occasions listed in the policy,” said Cllr Kavanagh.
“I’m not so precious or jingoistic that I feel the need for our tricolour to be there alongside the trans flag, the Palestinian flag, the Ukrainian flag or whatever that may be.
“But I would like to congratulate Cllr Carey for bringing this forward and it seems to be a very adequate solution. I think it’s quite measured, and I’d be happy to support it.”
Cllr Carey’s proposal was
approved by councillors at last week’s monthly meeting of South Dublin County Council.
A discussion was also entered into about having the national flag permanently flying at full mast outside council buildings, but Lorna Maxwell from the council said there are cost considerations which would make this an unlikely scenario.
Ms Maxwell said cost is the “principal issue”, as the flag would have to be raised and lowered every day, or if it was permanently raised, lighting would have to be installed.
