Citation, commencement and interpretationI11

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and shall come into force on 11th November 2000.

2

The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 19542 shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I1

Reg. 1 in operation at 11.11.2000, see reg. 1(1)

Flying of flags at government buildings on specified daysI22

1

The Union flag shall be flown at the government buildings specified in Part I of the Schedule to these Regulations on the days specified in Part II of the Schedule.

2

The Union flag shall be flown on the days specified in Part II of the Schedule at any other government building at which it was the practice to fly the Union flag on notified days in the period of 12 months ending with 30th November 1999.

3

In paragraph (2), “notified days” means days notified by the Department of Finance and Personnel to other Northern Ireland Departments as days for the flying of the Union flag at government buildings during the period of 12 months ending with 30th November 1999.

4

Where a government building specified in Part I of the Schedule has more than one flag pole, the European flag shall be flown in addition to the Union flag on Europe Day.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I2

Reg. 2 in operation at 11.11.2000, see reg. 1(1)

Flying of flags at government buildings on the occasion of a visit by a Head of State other than Her Majesty The QueenI33

1

On the occasion of a visit to a government building by a Head of State other than Her Majesty The Queen, the Union flag may be flown at that building.

2

Where on that occasion the Union flag is flown at that building and the building has more than one flag pole, the national flag of the country of the visiting Head of State may also be flown at that building on that occasion.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I3

Reg. 3 in operation at 11.11.2000, see reg. 1(1)

Flying of flags at government buildings on the occasion of a visit by Her Majesty The QueenI44

1

On the occasion of a visit to a government building by Her Majesty The Queen, the Royal Standard shall be flown at that building.

2

Where the government building concerned has more than one flag pole, the Union flag shall also be flown at that building on the occasion of Her Majesty’s visit.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I4

Reg. 4 in operation at 11.11.2000, see reg. 1(1)

Manner of flying flags required or permitted to be flown by regulations 2, 3 or 4I55

1

Where Regulation 2, 3 or 4 requires or permits the flying of a flag at a government building, the flag in question shall be flown at full mast, provided that:

a

where Regulation 2(4) or 3(2) requires or permits the flying of a flag in addition to the Union flag, that flag shall not be flown in a superior position to the Union flag; and

b

where Regulation 4 requires the flying of the Royal Standard and the Union Flag, the Royal Standard shall be flown in a superior position.

2

Where Regulation 2, 3 or 4(2) requires or permits the flying of a flag at a government building, it shall be flown from 8am until sunset on the day in question.

3

Where Regulation 4(1) requires the Royal Standard to be flown at a government building, it shall be flown whilst Her Majesty is present in the building.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I5

Reg. 5 in operation at 11.11.2000, see reg. 1(1)

Flying of flags at half mastI66

Following the death of a member of the Royal Family, or of a serving or former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Union flag shall be flown at half mast at the government buildings specified in Part 1 of the Schedule, on such days as may be notified in the Belfast Gazette.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I6

Reg. 6 in operation at 11.11.2000, see reg. 1(1)

Discretion to fly flags at government buildings

I77

Where Regulation 2(1), 2(2), 3(1) or 6 requires or permits the Union flag to be flown at a government building, or where Regulation 4(1) requires the Royal Standard to be flown at such a building, the Union flag may be flown in the same manner on the same day at any other government building.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I7

Reg. 7 in operation at 11.11.2000, see reg. 1(1)

I88

Where Regulation 2(4) or 3(2) requires or permits the flying of a flag in addition to the Union flag at a government building, that flag may be flown in the same manner on the same day at any other government building which has more than one flagpole, provided that the Union flag is also flown.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I8

Reg. 8 in operation at 11.11.2000, see reg. 1(1)

Prohibition on the flying of flags other than in accordance with the RegulationsI99

Except as provided by these Regulations, no flag shall be flown at any government building at any time.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I9

Reg. 9 in operation at 11.11.2000, see reg. 1(1)

Peter MandelsonOne of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State