6 Summary of consultation responses Part 2. (EQIA - The Flying of the Union Flag)

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Ethnic group

97.6 per cent of respondents (162) identified as white.[14]

 

[14] n=166

 

 

 

Age

The following graph and table provide a breakdown of responses by age band.

 

Age band                Number                  Percentage

18-24                          2                           1.1%

25-34                        12                           6.8%

35-44                        40                          22.6%

45-54                        69                          39.0%

55-64                        44                          24.9%

Over 65                      2                            1.1%

No response              8                             4.5%

 

 

 

Gender identity

A similar number of responses were received from people who identified as male as people who identified as female. 

 

Gender identity              Number                Percentage

Male                                  76                       42.9%

Female                             78                        44.1%

Prefer not to say/
nil responses                    23                        13.0%

 

 

 

Responses in relation to the draft policy

The following section considers responses to the current and proposed policy on flying the Union flag.

 

General attitude to flying the Union flag 

Respondents were asked to indicate how they feel in general about the flying of the Union flag on Council buildings using a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 meant “very uncomfortable” and 10 meant “very comfortable”.

The average rating was 5.4 out of 10.

 

Attitude                             Percentage       Number

1 (very uncomfortable)       28.8%                51

2                                          7.9%                 14

3                                          4.0%                   7

4                                          2.3%                   4

5                                        14.1%                  25

6                                          0.6%                   1

7                                          2.8%                    5

8                                          2.3%                    4

9                                          1.1%                    2

10 (very comfortable)        35.0%                  62

No response                        1.1%                   2

 

Respondents from a Protestant community background felt most comfortable with the flying of the Union Flag on average. Respondents from other Christian and Roman Catholic community backgrounds felt least comfortable on average.

 

Religion                                   Number of responses           Average rating

Roman Catholic                         57                                          2.7

Protestant                                  62                                           8.5

Other Christian (including
Christian related)                        3                                            1.5

Other Faith or non-Christian
community background              2                                            5.5

No religion                                24                                            4.0

Prefer not to say/
nil response                              29                                            6.0

 

Respondents were also offered the opportunity to explain why they felt that way. One hundred and thirty-two responses were received. The sentiment of each comment was analysed and coded as follows.  

 

Reason                              Number                  Percentage

Positive expression of
nationality/culture                 44                             33.3%

Sectarian/divisive                 20                             15.2%

Not representative of
nationality/culture                 17                             12.9%

Prefer no flags/neutral
space                                   21                             15.9%

Not a priority                          8                               6.1%

No opinion                            10                              7.6%

Other                                    10                              7.6%

 

Comments in favour of flying the Union flag included:

  • “We are part of the United Kingdom, and the Union Flag is the flag our nation.”
  • “This is a government building and are flew across all government buildings in the UK.”
  • “I have always been used to the Union Flag flying, part of my growing up.”

Comments not in favour of flying the Union flag included:

  • “Very intimidating”
  • “This flag is not representative of the entire community nor is it representative of the entire workforce.”
  • “There is no need for visual reminders on Council buildings – we all know where we live, and the flag is used as a symbol of oppression.”

 

 

Impact of current policy on promoting a good and harmonious working environment

20.1 per cent of respondents felt that the current flag policy has a positive impact on promoting a good and harmonious working environment; 43.1 felt that it has a negative impact; and 36.8 felt the impact to be neutral.

 

Impact                   Number             %

Positive                   35                    20.1%

Negative                 75                    43.1%

Neutral                   64                     36.8%

 

Respondents from Roman Catholic and other (non-Christian) faith backgrounds were most likely to feel the impact of the current policy is negative. People of no religion were most likely to feel the impact is positive.

 

Impact                     Roman Catholic    Protestant     Other Christian      Other faith      No religion     Prefer not to say/no response

                                    No.   %                No.   %              No.   %              No.   %            No.   %            No.   %

Positive                       0   0.0%              23   36.5%         0   0.0%             0   0.0%          15   65.2%        8   30.8%

Negative                   41   74.5%              7   11.1%         2   66.7%            2   100%           2     8.7%        9   34.6%

Neutral                     14   26.9%            33   52.4%         1   33.3%            0   0.0%            6   26.1%        9    34.6%

 

 

Frequency of flying the Union flag on Council buildings

Nearly a third of respondents (32.8 per cent) felt the flag should fly 365-days a year. Just over 1 in 4 (26.0 per cent) felt it should never fly.

 

Frequency                                          Count                Percentage

Always (365 days)                               58                     32.8%

On working days (260 days)
and designated flag days (15 days)     8                         4.5%

On specific designated days
(15 days)                                             46                      26.0%

It should depend on the location         15                        8.5%

No never                                              46                      26.0%

No response                                          4                         2.3%

 

People from a Protestant community background were on average most likely to agree that the Union Flag should be flown 365 days. People of Roman Catholic, other Christian, other faith and no religion backgrounds were on average most likely to agree that the flag should never be flown.

 

 

Frequency                 Roman Catholic     Protestant           Other Christian           Other Faith or           No religion       Prefer not to say
                                                                                           (Including Christian      non-Christian
                                                                                             related)                      community
                                                                                                                                background 

                                    No.   %                No.   %              No.   %                            No.   %                   No.   %               No.   %

 

Always (365 days)       1    1.8%             42   66.7%         0   0.0%                         1   50.0%                 2   8.0%             6     33.3%

On working days
(260 days) and
designated flag            0   0.0%                 5   7.9%          0   0.0%                           0   0.0%                  2   8.0%             1   5.6%
days (15 days)

On specific
designated days         23   41.1%            12   19.0%        1   33.3%                        0   0.0%                  6   24.0%          4    22.2%
(15 days)

It should depend 
on the location             5       8.9%              4   4.8%         1   33.3%                        0   0.0%                 3   12.0%          3   16.7%

 

 

Current policy on flying the Union flag

Respondents were asked to consider how much they agreed with the current policy on flying the Union flag.

24.9 per cent agree or strongly agreed with the current policy, and 47.5 per cent disagree or strongly disagree.

 

Current policy                       Number               Percentage

Strongly agree                       17                          9.6%

Agree                                     27                         15.3%

Neutral                                  46                          26.0%

Disagree                               42                          23.7%

Strongly disagree                  42                         23.7%

No response                           3                           1.7%

 

Among the 81 respondents who provided a comment in response to this question, those not in favour of the current policy considered that the Union flag is divisive, not representative or not a priority at this time and would prefer no flags or a neutral working environment. Others appear to disagree with the current policy on the grounds that it could go further, for example, by flying the flag consistently across all Council buildings. 

63.3 per cent agreed that the current policy should be changed, while 32.2 per cent disagreed.  

 

Opinion                Number                 Percentage

Yes                        112                       63.3%

No                           57                       32.2%

No response             8                         4.5%

 

84.9 per cent of respondents from a Catholic community background felt the current policy should be changed compared to 41.9 per cent of respondents from a Protestant background.

 

 

 

                                                             Current policy               Current policy 
                                                             should be changed       should not be changed

Community background                       Number      %                Number        %

Roman Catholic                                      45        84.9%                8              15.1%

Protestant                                               26        41.9%              36              58.1%

Other Christian (Including
Christian related)                                     3        100.0%                0              0.0%

Other Faith or non-Christian
community background                           2        100.0%                0             0.0%

No religion                                             20          83.3%               4             16.7%

 

 

 

 

Proposed policy on flying the Union flag

Respondents were asked to consider how much they agree with the proposed policy on flying the Union flag. 31.1 per cent agreed or strongly agreed and 48.6 per cent disagreed or strongly disagreed.

 

Opinion                          Number               Percentage

Strongly agree                35                        19.8%

Agree                              20                        11.3%

Neutral                            34                        19.2%

Disagree                         25                        14.1%

Strongly disagree           61                         34.5%

No response                    4                            2.3%

 

Respondents from a Protestant community background were mostly likely to agree with the proposed policy, while respondents from a Catholic community background were least likely to agree.

 

 

Frequency                 Roman Catholic     Protestant           Other Christian           Other Faith or           No religion       Prefer not to say
                                                                                           (Including Christian      non-Christian
                                                                                             related)                      community
                                                                                                                                background 

                                    No.   %                No.   %              No.   %                            No.   %                   No.   %               No.   %

 

Agree/strongly agree   2   3.5%            39   62.9%          0   0.0%                          1   50.0%                 4   16.0%           4   21.1%

Neutral                         5   8.8%            15   24.2%         1   33.3%                         0   0.0%                   4   16.0%           8   42.1%

Disagree/strongly
disagree                     50   87.7%            8   12.9%         2   66.7%                        1   50.0%                  17   68.0%         7   36.8%

 

 

 

Impact of proposed policy on promoting a good and harmonious working environment

19.0 per cent of respondents felt that the proposed flag policy would have a positive impact on promoting a good and harmonious working environment; 49.4 felt that it would have a negative impact; and 31.6 felt that the impact would be neutral.

 

Impact                                 Number             %

Positive                                   33                  19.0%

Negative                                 86                  49.4%

Neutral                                   55                   31.6%

 

Respondents from Roman Catholic and other (non-Christian) faith backgrounds were most likely to feel the impact of the current policy is negative. People of no religion were most likely to feel the impact is positive.

 

 

Impact                Roman Catholic     Protestant           Other Christian           Other Faith            No religion       Prefer not to say

                               No.   %                  No.   %              No.   %                         No.   %                   No.   %               No.   %

 

Positive                  0   0.0%                23   37.1%         0   0.0%                         1   50.0%                3   15.8%           6   23.1%

Negative             49   87.5%                 8   12.9%         2   66.7%                       1   50.0%               15   78.9%         11   42.3%

Neutral                 7    12.5%               31   50.0%        1   33.3%                        0     0.0%                 1     5.3%          9   34.6%

 

 

Respondents were also asked to comment on the proposed policy on the flying of the Union flag.[15] Comments in favour of the proposed policy included:

  • “to show that we are part of something bigger and are happy to be part of UK”
  • “It will promote equality across the Council and ensure everywhere is following the same guidance.”
  • “Government buildings should fly Union Flag.”

Comments not in favour of the proposed policy included:

  • “Unnecessary and a show of unwillingness to create a shared space.”
  • “it alienates the Catholic staff and disrespects their right to an equal and neutral workplace.”
  • “lets be more welcoming and tolerant to visitors and locals in our area.”

A number of respondents also proposed alternative measures including:

  • “Tolerance of others in a divided society. Fly the flag only at Cloonavin, preferably designated days only.”
  • “Doesnt need to flown 365 days or for minor royals, and Sheskburn left out and discriminated against.”
  • “I disagree with the removal of restrictions within the policy however I think the focus is purely on one flag and should be widened to include all flags”

[15] n=78

 

Preferred arrangement by location

Respondents were then asked to consider each of the Council buildings named in the proposed policy and indicate how many days they would prefer the Union flag to fly, if any.

On average across all buildings, 31.1 per cent preferred flying the flag 365-days a year; 35.5 per cent preferred no flag days; and 24.9 per cent preferred designated days. Variances between locations are not be statistically significant.

 

                                      Coleraine         Portrush          Ballymoney       Roe Valley        Cloonavin,       Riada House     Limavady
                                      Town Hall        Town Hall         Town Hall          Arts Centre       Coleraine                                  Council Office

                                      No.   %             No.   %             No.   %             No.   %              No.   %             No.   %             No.  %  

365 days                       56   31.6%        56   31.6%       56   31.6%        54   30.5%        55   31.1%        54   30.5%        54   30.5%

No flag                          63   35.6%        63   35.6%       63   35.6%        62   35.0%        63    35.6%       63   35.6%        63   35.6%

Designated days
(circa 15 days)              44   24.9%       44    24.9%       44   24.9%        44   24.9%       44    24.9%        44   24.9%        44   24.9%

Working days (260) 
and designated days*   10    5.6%        10   5.6%          10   5.6%          10    5.6%        10     5.6%         10     5.6%         10    5.6%

No response                  4      2.3%         4   2.3%            4   2.3%            7    4.0%          5     2.8%           6      3.4%          6    3.4%

 

 

 

Responses in relation to the draft EQIA

19.2 per cent of respondents agreed with the assessment of impacts in the EQIA, and 13.0 per cent disagreed.

 

Opinion                      Number           Percentage

Strongly agree             9                       5.1%

Agree                         25                     14.1%

Neutral                     102                     57.6%

Disagree                    14                       7.9%

Strongly disagree        9                       5.1%

No response              18                      10.2%

 

Among the 20 comments received asking respondents to explain why they disagree with the assessment of impacts, six stated that they had not seen or been able to find the EQIA.

Respondents were also asked about any other issues that should be included in the EQIA[16] and about any further relevant data or research that should be taken in to account.[17] The majority of respondents took the opportunity to restate their previous position in relation to the policy. Other comments included:

  • “Flying of a flag outside a building does not necessarily cause a chill factor and individuals are aware that a flag outside a building does not represent the views – either politically or religiously of every individual within a building.”
  • “The Town Halls or previous town halls are generally centers of art, culture, venues for weddings etc, essentially they are Shared Spaces, but the policy wants to remind citizens and staff, that they are not really shared at all. There is absolutely no need for the Town Halls or Arts Centre to fly flags.”
  • “What about Ballycastle – its inconsistent”
  • “There should be no other flags flown representing any other country or minority groups, such as the Pride flag.”
  • “The Good Relations strategy of the CCGC should be considered to ensure that the flag flying does not become contentious.”
  • “I am not opposed to the Union flag being flown, however, I do think having this flag alone in non inclusive. Either both Union flag and Irish Tri colour should fly beside each other at the same height and have the same rules/guidance surrounding them or no flag at all should fly.”
  • “Equality Impact assessment should be taking into account the other parties and religions within council”
  • “A study into flags, emblems and victims was published before Christmas without any recommendations, as none of the politicians could agree on how to deal with the past or flags […] I believe that it would be prudent to delay such a policy would could potentially have ramifications both with regards to staff and on the ground in community relations terms.”

 

[16] n=28

[17] n=25

Other responses

Causeway Coast and Glens received two substantive written responses to the public consultation.[18]

 

Response from an elected Member

Independent councillor James McCorkell provided a written submission which agreed “that the Union Flag should be flown on all Council buildings in a fair and equal manner across the Borough.”

He stated that the revised policy would bring consistency across the borough and across the UK. 

“As things stand, there is not fairness and equality to the Rate paying residents who I represent in Limavady DEA as no flag is flown at any time, however the Union Flag is flown in an official capacity, to varying degrees in other towns across the Borough […] and I see no reason why the rules applicable to GB, should not be applied to Northern Ireland. We are after all, part of the United Kingdom […] if viewed with a fair eye, the Union Flag does not discriminate, nor intimidate.”

Councillor McCorkell’s full submission is included at appendix 10.

 

Response from the Equality Commission

A written response was submitted by the Equality Commission NI. It considered that "the information contained in the screening succinctly summarises” advice previously provided by the Commission on this matter.

However, it further advised that in relation to the policy, the arrangements for reviewing the locations where the Union Flag would be flown should be clarified.

In relation to the EQIA, it commented:

“Where a policy shows a possible adverse impact on any group, the EQIA should include consideration of measures which might mitigate these impact(s) and of alternative policies which might better achieve the promotion of equality of opportunity. Such considerations should be central to an EQIA and be included in the EQIA so that consultees may evaluate the information and the potential impact of mitigations/alternative policies on equality of opportunity and good relations.

“Despite identifying a potential major impact, the EQIA has not set out or considered any mitigations or alternative policies. While the consultation questionnaire issued to consultees presents alternatives to the policy these are not included in the main EQIA report. This places the onus on consultees to consider impacts. Responsibility to identify alternative policies or mitigations and their impacts lies with the council as opposed to consultees and these should have been included in the EQIA report to enable consultees to make an informed decision.”

The Commission also advised that the final EQIA should include plans to monitor the impact of the policy in line with the Council’s equality scheme.

A copy of the response is included at appendix 11.

 

 

[18] A further two written responses stated that they had no opinion on this matter.