HC Deb 31 May 1893 vol 12 cc1691-2

Motion made, and Question proposed, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to repeal the provisions of the Act of the sixth and seventh years of William the Fourth, chapter 38, relating to the display, on licensed premises, of flags and other decorations."— (Mr. T. M. Healy.)

MR. TOMLINSON

I object.

MR. T. M. HEALY

This is a Bill to enable the Union Jack to be waved on every public-house in the North of Ireland.

MR. R. G. WEBSTER (St. Pancras, E.)

It is not illegal to display the national flag of our country—the Union Jack—on any building in the United Kingdom, and I hope it never will be. Does this Bill propose to remove the St. Patrick's Cross from the Union Jack? The law in Ireland does not affect the Union Jack, which is a national flag, and simply prevents the display of local Party emblems on licensed premises.

MR. T. M. HEALY

It will repeal the Act which forbids the display of flags on public-houses in Ireland. Great inconvenience has lately been experienced by the Orange Party in Dublin and Belfast owing to their inability to display the Union Jack on public-houses. I am anxious to remove that disability, and to prevent policemen making raids on the public-houses which display these deco-rations.

Motion agreed to.

Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. T. M. Healy, Mr. Sexton, and Sir Thomas Esmonde.

Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 379.]