Flagpoles

Environment – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:00 pm on 30 November 2010.

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Photo of Alex Maskey Alex Maskey Sinn Féin 2:00, 30 November 2010

1. asked the Minister of the Environment how many planning applications for flagpoles on ground owned by councils, the Housing Executive or the Department for Regional Development, have been received and approved in the last two years.         (AQO 631/11)

Photo of Edwin Poots Edwin Poots DUP

My Department has not received any planning applications for flagpoles on council, Housing Executive or Department for Regional Development (DRD) land in the past two years.

Photo of Alex Maskey Alex Maskey Sinn Féin

I thank the Minister for his response. Given the significant number of flagpoles that are erected around the place, particularly on many arterial routes, including some that are close to here, what does the Department intend to do to have a number of those flagpoles, and, indeed, the flags that are on them illegally, removed?

Photo of Edwin Poots Edwin Poots DUP

For the purposes of planning legislation, a flag falls within the definition of an advert. The display of certain adverts requires express consent from the Department. However, the national flag can be displayed without the need to obtain consent, and, where such is displayed in accordance with the advertising regulations, the flagpole is deemed to have planning permission and no application is required.

Photo of Conall McDevitt Conall McDevitt Social Democratic and Labour Party

Has the Minister had any contact from the Minister for Regional Development about the work of the flags working group, which was meant to have been established last year on an interdepartmental basis to deal with the issue of illegal flag flying?

Photo of Edwin Poots Edwin Poots DUP

None that I am aware of.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

Next on the list for a question is Mr Cathal Boylan.

Photo of Cathal Boylan Cathal Boylan Sinn Féin

Ceist uimhir a dó.

Photo of William Hay William Hay Speaker

I am looking at the wrong Minister’s questions. It is Mickey Brady next.