'The late SDLP leader John Hume once said that you can't eat a flag; perhaps once our politicians have this issue sorted, they can begin to look at the issues that are preventing families from putting food on the table.'
Ask any of the tourists who have been flocking to Northern Ireland in recent years what stood out during their visit, and you might be met with comments on our attractions, such as the ever-popular Titanic Belfast, our hospitality, the people, or our utterly baffling obsession with flags.
While freedom of expression is a fundamental right, the current state of flag flying in public spaces has become a serious issue with the arguement that it fuels sectarianism, creates an atmosphere of intimidation and disrupts the work going on on the ground to build community relations in many areas.
Then there is the issue of flags and bunting being left on display until they are threadbare and not only pose a health and safety risk to road users but also leave our streets looking rundown and grotesque. While any attempt to make our shared spaces more welcoming should be desired, any future regulations on flag flying would raise many questions.
SDLP Lisburn South Belfast Politics Stormont
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