Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has expressed his disappointment that the Union Flag is not flying from Parliament Buildings, Stormont, today to mark the birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge.
The Strangford MLA said: “It is a ridiculous situation that the Union flag is being flown at full mast from Belfast City Hall today, but not at Stormont, because there is more than one, agreed list of Designated Days.'
“It appears Belfast City Hall goes with the Designated Day list published by the Department of Culture Media and Sport in London, which offers 18 Designated Days for Northern Ireland, while Stormont is governed by the list in the Flags Regulation Order of 2000. This had 17 days, but with the deaths of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and The Princess Margaret, we are down to 15 days.'
“I have raised this issue with the Secretary of State’s Office, and am seeking a meeting with Theresa Villiers to ask her to address this inconsistency.'
“Today illustrates just one of the reasons why I supported asking the Assembly Commission to look at the issue of the flying of the Union Flag at Parliament Buildings.”