The Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision as to the flying of flags at government buildings in Northern Ireland. A building is a government building for this purpose if it is wholly or mainly occupied by members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (see Article 3(2) of the Flags (Northern Ireland) Order 2000 (S.I. 2000/1347 (N.I. 3)). The main provisions are as follows:

• regulation 2 requires the Union flag to be flown at the 7 government buildings listed in Part I of the Schedule on the days listed in Part II of the Schedule. The European flag must be flown in addition to the Union flag on Europe day at any of those buildings which have more than one flagpole. The Union flag must also be flown on the days specified in the Schedule at any other government building where it was the practice to fly it on notified days (defined in regulation 2(3)) in the 12 month period ending on 30th November 1999.

• regulation 3 allows the Union flag to be flown at a government building during a visit by a Head of State other than Her Majesty The Queen; if the building being visited has more than one flag pole, the national flag of the country of the visiting Head of State may also be flown.

• regulation 4 requires the Royal Standard to be flown at a government building during a visit by Her Majesty The Queen. The Royal Standard is to be flown only while Her Majesty is in the building (regulation 5) and must be flown in a superior position to the Union flag if it is also flown during the visit (mandatory for buildings with more than one flagpole: regulation 4(2)).

• regulation 5 makes detailed provision as the manner of flying flags required or permitted to be flown by regulations 2, 3 or 4

• regulation 6 requires the flying of the Union flag at half mast at the government buildings specified in Part I of the Schedule following the death of a member of the Royal Family, or of a serving or former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The days or days on which flags are to be flown on such occasions are to be notified at the relevant time by publication in the Belfast Gazette.

• regulation 7 allows the Union flag to be flown at government buildings not specified in Part I of the Schedule, or required to fly it by Regulation 2(2), both on the days specified in Part II of the Schedule, and (at half mast) on an occasion of mourning as provided for in regulation 6. It also allows the Union flag to be flown on the occasion of a visit by Her Majesty or by another Head of State, at government buildings other than that or those being visited.

• regulation 8 allows the European flag to be flown alongside the Union flag on Europe day, at a government building not specified in Part I of the Schedule. It also allows the national flag of a visiting head of state to be flown alongside the Union flag on the occasion of a visit by a Head of State other than Her Majesty, at a government building other than that or those being visited.

• regulation 9 prohibits the flying of flags at government buildings other than as provided for by the Regulations.