Cork County Hall Palestinian flag tussle on the verge of a resolution 

An ongoing tussle between Cork County Council officials and elected members following a motion which unanimously approved the flying of the Palestinian flag at County Hall appears to be on the verge of resolution – though a date has yet be agreed as to when the flag might be flown.

The motion, proposed by Cllr Liam Quaide, at the January 22 meeting gained the support of his colleagues to fly the flag in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

However council officials have said there is no agreed date to fly the flag. When this matter was raised previously, they had said that the policy was only to fly flags of national significance when dignitaries were visiting.

At the January 22 meeting of the council, however, Cllr Liam Quaide’s flag proposal was part of a more extensive motion from Cllr Sinéad Sheppard advocating a wide range of symbolic gestures the council could adapt to indicate its support for Palestinians.

Motion

The motion was proposed and agreed at the meeting after a debate in which many councillors expressed support for the people of Gaza who have been suffering under an Israeli onslaught since October 7 when Hamas attacked a concert on the border with Israel, killing more than 1400 people and taking more than 200 hostages.

Among the speakers was Cllr Jack White who expressed his support for the wider motion as well as the specific proposal to fly the Palestinian flag. The Fine Gael councillor told The Echo this week that he was confident that the Palestinian flag would be flying ‘soon’ at County Hall.

“I believe the council are in the process of acquiring the flag,” Cllr White said.

Gesture

According to Cllr Quaide, flying the Palestinian flag at the council building would be a ‘small but important gesture of solidarity with a civilian population subjected to appalling suffering and injustice, and with the Palestinian community in Ireland’.

“Councillors have unanimously supported this motion, which is not at odds with any council policy,” said the Social Democrat elected member. “Despite previous objections from the executive to the flying of the Palestinian flag, I hope we can schedule a date for this soon.”

When The Echo sought clarity from the council on the flying of the Palestinian flag following the January 22 vote, this was the one line response received from the authority’s communication office.

“Cork County Council has not agreed any specific date for the flying of the Palestinian flag.”

Cllr Quaide’s party colleague, Isobel Towse, the candidate for June’s local elections in Clonakilty/Skibbereen, did receive a more comprehensive detailing of council policy regarding the flying of the Palestinian flag, and other national flags, when she wrote to the council asking that the Palestinian flag be flown at County Hall on Christmas Day.

In correspondence seen by this newspaper, a senior Council official told Ms Towse that ‘national flags can be flown when there are visiting dignitaries’.

“It is also recognised that from time to time events of an exceptional nature or special occasions arise whereby it would be appropriate for Cork County Council to demonstrate its visible recognition and support.

“These would typically be of countywide interest and remit and would include national/local commemorative events, ceremonial functions, charitable and socially inclusive events and initiatives.

“It does not provide for flags of national significance to flown outside of when there are visiting dignitaries.

“Flying any flag in these circumstances requires a policy change.

“Cork County Council see no need to revisit existing policy in this regard and believe flying any flag (or not) is not an indication of either support or lack of support for any particular cause.”

Timing

The timing of the hoisting of the flag was expected to be discussed at the Tuesday meeting of the Corporate Policy Group which involves top council officials and the leaders of the main party in the chamber.

However it was not on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of the CPG.

On Tuesday, Cork County Council said there was no update on their previously expressed position that no date had been agreed to fly the Palestinian flag.

If it is not flown before next Monday’s full council meeting, the issue is likely to be raised again in the council chamber.