Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Following the decision of the Assembly Commission to light Stormont in the colours of the Black Lives Matter movement earlier this month, I tabled a question asking why this was possible while a request to light the building to mark Innocent Victims of Terrorism Day was rejected.
“In the Commission response, I am advised that the request to light Stormont back in March was rejected because “the application did not meet the criteria of the Special Lighting Policy and the Commission … was unable to approve the request.”
“However in the same answer, I am advised that normally a request to light the building must fulfil the criteria and be received “no later than four weeks before the date(s) on which special lighting is being sought.” The request to light Stormont for Black Lives Matter was received on Wednesday 3rd June and the building was lit not four weeks later but three days later on Saturday 6th June.
“It is obvious that the powers that be at Stormont are only too happy to change the rules whenever it suits them. How telling that it didn’t suit to do the same for innocent victims!”
Note to editors
The response to Mr Allister’s question asking why Stormont was lit for Black Lives Matter while this couldn’t happen for innocent victims is as follows:
Under the Assembly Commission’s Special Lighting Policy, the normal procedure for anticipated occasions is that the Commission may grant permission for special lighting, subject to receiving a request that fulfils the criteria no later than four weeks before the date(s) on which special lighting is being sought.
In 2019, an application under this procedure to light Parliament Buildings on the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism on 11 March 2019 was accepted and the Building was duly illuminated.
In 2020, an application was received to light Parliament Buildings in conjunction with a Member-sponsored event on Friday 6 March 2020 to mark the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, which was actually on Wednesday 11 March 2020. That application did not meet the criteria of the
Special Lighting Policy and the Commission, although understanding and sympathising with the significance of the European Day, was unable to approve the request.
In exceptional circumstances, and in order to react to unpredictable circumstances and current events, the Special Lighting Policy allows the Commission to take a decision, upon referral by the Speaker, to illuminate Parliament Buildings to mark those exceptional circumstances. On Wednesday 3 June 2020, the Speaker received a request to light Parliament Buildings on Saturday 6 June in opposition to racism on a coordinated day of solidarity. The request was submitted by:
North West Migrants Forum;
African and Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland;
Horn of Africa People’s Aid Northern Ireland;
Ethnic Minority Sports Organisation Northern Ireland; and
United Against Racism Belfast
The Speaker referred this to the Commission for decision and, while it was mindful of previous decisions, the Commission agreed by consensus, and in line with the policy, to accept the request.