My issue is trite in light of the previous two contributions. However, I want to raise an issue and ask for the support of both the Leader and the Cathaoirleach in the matter. Heritage and Tidy Towns groups go to enormous effort to ensure the upkeep, care and love for their communities. They are to be lauded. I have a group in the Dublin South-Central constituency that works extraordinarily hard. They have applied to Dublin City Council to build a commemorative garden, which was at the great suggestion of the Cathaoirleach. They have made representations to Dublin City Council which has agreed to the replica of the 1916 Proclamation and the seven trees that represent the seven signatories. However, it will not agree to the third element, which is the flagpole, on the basis of flagpole protocol. I already got the assistance of the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, who wrote an excellent protocol surrounding everything to do with flags, which is great for the Taoiseach’s office. He very kindly shared that with me. I empowered the group with that and along with it wrote a letter to the council myself. I still have not received anything back.

Apart from standing on its own merits, these commemorative gardens are also a feature for Tidy Towns groups. There are huge community and heritage efforts and a whole community mobilised and incentivised to act, and now Dublin City Council is saying that the protocol for flags cannot be adhered to. However, it is well established by our own learned Cathaoirleach that street lighting is sufficient to ensure that the flag is illuminated 24 hours of the day. That is being sufficiently done.

I am asking for the Leader and Cathaoirleach to support me in writing to Dublin City Council in support of this group. I would be obliged if they did that. I can send them on the details.

I thank the Senator for her work in this regard. She is correct. I was working with the Taoiseach’s Department in the lead-up to 2016 commemorations. One of the issues that kept coming up was the issue of the flag flying overnight. Protocol comes from precedent, as we know. The precedent in relation to the flying of the national flag comes from Thomas Francis Meagher flying it for the first time on 7 March 1848, where it flew continuously, day and night. We know this from the records of Dublin Castle. It was flown continuously until it was removed by the authorities.

The second recording of it flying was in 1916, and the Senator can imagine that it was not taken down each night during the 1916 Rising because going onto the roof of the GPO would have been a life-shortening exercise. Again, that was one of the precedents that helped create a new protocol which, as the Senator outlined, has been adopted by the Taoiseach’s Department regarding flying the national flag by day and by night, following the precedent that was set by Thomas Francis Meagher, but also the during the 1916 Rising, where it can be flown at night where it is illuminated, preferably by spotlight, but not necessarily so. Street lighting will do. I hope Dublin City Council will respond favourably. I will engage with it on the Senator’s behalf on that matter.

The Senator said it is a small issue, but the national flag is flown every morning on the lawn of Leinster House, along with the Ukrainian flag.

There are parts of Ukraine that can no longer fly their own flag, as Senator Ahearn and others know. Flying our national flag should be something we never take for granted. I call on Senator Carrigy.