The Secretary of State may make regulations about flying flags at government buildings and court-houses, but draft regulations must be sent to the Assembly and approved by both Houses of Parliament before they can be made.
The Flags (Northern Ireland) Order 2000 This Order may be cited as the Flags (Northern Ireland) Order 2000. This Order shall come into operation on such day or days as the Secretary of State may by order appoint. The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to an Act of the Assembly. The Secretary of State may make regulations regulating the flying of flags at government buildingsand court-houses. For the purposes of paragraph (1) “government building” means a building wholly or mainly occupied by members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Where the Secretary of State proposes to make regulations under Article 3, he shall refer a draft of the proposed regulations to the Assembly. The Assembly shall, within such period as the Secretary of State may specify, report to the Secretary of State the views expressed in the Assembly on the proposed regulations. The Secretary of State shall consider any report which is made to him under paragraph (2) within the period specified under that paragraph. In exercising his powers under Article 3 the Secretary of State shall have regard to the Belfast Agreement. No regulations may be made under Article 3 unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament. The draft laid under paragraph (5) shall be accompanied by— a copy of any report considered by the Secretary of State under paragraph (3); and if, as a result of any such report, the proposed regulations have been changed, a statement containing details of the changes. 1954 c. 33 (N.I.). fully exercised by SR 2000/334 Words in art. 3(1) inserted (12.4.2010) by Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26), ss. 67(1), 87(1); S.R. 2010/113, art. 2, Sch. para. 15