Public invited to shape proposed Northern Ireland law on flags displayed in shared public spaces

The public is being invited to help shape proposed legislation that could change how flags and emblems are displayed on publicly owned infrastructure across Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Assembly’s Committee for Infrastructure has launched a Call for Evidence on the proposed Display of Flags and Emblems Bill, giving individuals, community groups and organisations the opportunity to comment before MLAs decide whether the legislation should progress to detailed scrutiny.

If ultimately passed, the Bill would create a legal framework governing the display of flags and emblems on public property such as lampposts, railings, bus shelters and bollards. It aims to balance respect for cultural expression with measures designed to prevent intimidation, territorial marking and the coercive use of symbols in shared public spaces.

What is the Bill trying to achieve?

The Bill, introduced by Paula Bradshaw MLA, seeks to address what its sponsor describes as the ongoing misuse of public property for displaying flags or emblems intended to exclude, intimidate or assert control over an area.

Rather than banning flags, the legislation proposes a statutory framework setting out when flags or emblems may be displayed on public infrastructure and when they should be removed in the public interest.

The Bill would apply to publicly owned street furniture and other public infrastructure. It would notapply to flags displayed on private homes, businesses or other private property.

What would change in practice?

One of the Bill’s key provisions would place a legal duty on the Department for Infrastructure to remove flags or emblems displayed in public places where doing so is considered to be in the public interest.

The legislation sets out circumstances in which removal would be required or considered appropriate, while also requiring the Department to take a range of factors into account before making a decision.

The Bill also proposes the creation of a statutory Code of Practice to provide clear guidance on how decisions should be made, with the aim of ensuring a consistent and transparent approach across Northern Ireland.

If enacted, supporters say the legislation would provide greater legal clarity in an area that has often proved contentious, while critics and respondents to the consultation will have the opportunity to raise concerns about its potential practical, legal and societal implications.

Committee wants public views before detailed scrutiny

The Committee for Infrastructure says it is seeking evidence on the Bill’s objectives, proposals and likely impacts.

Committee Chairperson Peter Martin MLA said:

“The introduction of this Bill highlights the continuing relevance of how shared spaces are managed and experienced across Northern Ireland. The Committee is keen to hear from a wide range of stakeholders to help inform its understanding of the potential impacts of the proposals, particularly where they intersect with public infrastructure.”

The Committee is encouraging responses from members of the public, community organisations, councils, businesses and anyone with an interest in the issues raised by the Bill.

Why your views matter

The Bill completed its First Stage in the Assembly on 30 June 2026 and is expected to proceed to a Second Stage debate, where MLAs will consider its general principles.

Only if the Assembly approves the Bill at Second Stage will it move to Committee Stage for detailed examination.

However, the Committee is gathering evidence now so that, should the Bill proceed, it already has the views of stakeholders to help inform its scrutiny and recommendations to the Assembly.

Respondents do not have to complete every part of the consultation and may choose to comment only on the sections or clauses they wish to address.

How to take part

The consultation opened on 9 July 2026 and will remain open until 16 September 2026.

The easiest way to have your say is by completing the Assembly’s online consultation through the Citizen Space platform.

Take part online here:

Display of Flags and Emblems Bill – Call for Evidence⁠

Respondents do not have to answer every question and can choose to comment only on the clauses or sections of the Bill that interest them.

Those who prefer can instead submit written evidence in Microsoft Word format (rather than PDF) by email to committee.infrastructure@niassembly.gov.uk.

Where possible, submissions should be structured around the relevant clauses or schedules of the Bill and include any proposed amendments.

Paper submissions can also be sent to:

Clerk to the Committee for Infrastructure

Room 416

Parliament Buildings

Ballymiscaw

Stormont

Belfast

BT4 3XX

The Committee notes that written submissions may be published, in full or in part, on its website, quoted in its report or referred to during public Committee meetings. Anyone wishing their evidence to remain confidential or to be published anonymously should make this clear when submitting their response.

What happens next?

The current consultation will not determine whether the Bill becomes law. Instead, it is intended to help inform the Committee’s scrutiny if MLAs vote to send the legislation to Committee Stage after Second Stage.

The evidence gathered over the coming weeks is expected to play an important role in shaping the Committee’s recommendations before the Assembly decides whether the proposed legal framework should progress further through the legislative process.

Explainer: What is a Bill and how does it become law in Northern Ireland?

When politicians talk about a Bill, they are referring to a proposal for a new law or a proposal to change an existing law.

A Bill is not law. Before it can become law, it must pass through several stages in the Northern Ireland Assembly, where MLAs debate its principles, scrutinise its detail and decide whether it should be approved.

The proposed Display of Flags and Emblems Bill is currently at the beginning of that process.

Here’s how it works.

• Stage 1 – First Stage

This is the formal introduction of a Bill to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

There is no debate and no vote at this stage. The Bill is simply presented to the Assembly and published so that MLAs and the public can read it.

Status of the Display of Flags and Emblems Bill: Completed on 30 June 2026.

• Stage 2 – Second Stage

At Second Stage, MLAs debate the general principles of the Bill.

Rather than examining every detail, they consider whether they agree with the overall purpose of the proposed legislation and whether it should continue through the Assembly process.

At the end of the debate, MLAs vote.

If a majority supports the Bill, it progresses to detailed scrutiny.

If the Bill is defeated at this stage, it goes no further.

Status of the Display of Flags and Emblems Bill: ⏳ Awaiting Second Stage debate.

• Stage 3 – Committee Stage

If the Bill passes Second Stage, it is referred to the relevant Assembly Committee—in this case, the Committee for Infrastructure.

This is often the longest and most detailed part of the legislative process.

The Committee scrutinises the Bill in depth by examining its provisions, inviting evidence from members of the public, organisations, experts and interested groups, and considering the potential consequences of the proposed legislation.

As part of this work, the Committee considers the Bill clause by clause and prepares a report for the Assembly. While the Committee cannot amend the Bill itself, it can recommend changes for MLAs to consider later in the process.

This is why the Committee has already launched its Call for Evidence. If the Bill reaches Committee Stage, the evidence submitted by the public will help inform that detailed scrutiny.

• Stage 4 – Consideration Stage

The Bill then returns to the Assembly Chamber.

This is the first opportunity for all MLAs to debate and vote on proposed amendments.

MLAs also decide whether each clause and schedule should remain part of the Bill, either as originally drafted or after being amended.

• Stage 5 – Further Consideration Stage

This is the Assembly’s final opportunity to debate and vote on any further amendments before deciding whether the Bill should proceed to its final vote.

• Stage 6 – Final Stage

At Final Stage, MLAs hold one last debate before voting on whether to pass the Bill.

If a majority supports it, the Bill is approved by the Assembly and sent for Royal Assent.

• Stage 7 – Royal Assent

Royal Assent is the final step in the legislative process.

Once Royal Assent is granted by the Monarch, the Bill officially becomes an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly and becomes law.

However, that does not always mean the new law takes effect immediately. Some Acts come into force as soon as Royal Assent is granted, while others begin on a specified future date or on dates set later by the relevant department.

• Can a Bill change?

Yes.

A Bill often changes as it moves through the Assembly.

MLAs can propose amendments during the later stages of the process, meaning the final Act may differ significantly from the version first introduced.

That is one reason why Committee scrutiny and public consultation are considered important parts of the legislative process.

• Why is the public being asked for their views now?

Normally, Assembly Committees begin gathering evidence after a Bill has passed Second Stage and entered Committee Stage.

In this case, however, the Committee for Infrastructure has decided to invite views in advance.

The Committee says this will allow it to begin its detailed scrutiny without delay if the Assembly agrees that the Bill should proceed.

Members of the public, community groups, businesses and organisations are therefore being invited to comment on:

• the Bill’s overall objectives;

• its individual proposals;

• its potential impact;

• any unintended consequences; and

• whether changes should be made before it progresses.

If the Bill reaches Committee Stage, those responses will help inform the Committee’s examination of the legislation and any recommendations it makes to the Assembly.

• Where does the Display of Flags and Emblems Bill fit today?

The Bill has completed First Stage and is awaiting Second Stage, when MLAs will debate whether its general principles should be supported.

At the same time, the Committee for Infrastructure has opened a Call for Evidence, allowing people across Northern Ireland to submit their views before any detailed Committee scrutiny begins.

If the Bill passes Second Stage, the evidence gathered through the consultation will help inform the Committee’s examination of the legislation before it reports back to the Assembly.