Debate on flag flying likely to be fractious

A fractious meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly is expected today when members discuss a DUP motion demanding that the British Union flag should be flown over all ministerial departments, including those held by the two Sinn Fein ministers.

The first meeting of the reinstated Assembly passed off relatively calmly yesterday, dealing with non-contentious issues such as departmental finances, ground rents, dogs and weights and measures.

The flags motion from the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley and the Minister for Social Development, Mr Nigel Dodds, demands that the Union flag be hoisted over all departments during designated days, and over Stormont during Assembly sittings.

The motion is almost certain to fail, as it cannot command cross-community support.

The political focus will shift from Stormont to Westminster in the afternoon for the second reading of the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill. There is a growing expectation that Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, will accept amendments to the Bill to meet the concerns of nationalists, the Police Ombudsman and the Police Authority.

The Police Ombudsman, Mrs Nuala O'Loan, met Mr Mandelson yesterday to express concern that the Bill limited her ability to investigate complaints against the police properly. She said she received "clear indications that the Secretary of State is minded to amend the Bill to deal with her concerns".

The Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, repeated that the Bill must be amended to accord with the Patten proposals, to win the allegiance of the SDLP. He again complained that the Bill diluted the power of the proposed Policing Board, the 19-member body charged with running and keeping the proposed new force accountable to the public.

The Assembly will appoint 10 members to the board - three each from the SDLP and the UUP, two each from Sinn Fein and the DUP. Another nine will be appointed by the Northern Secretary. Mr Mallon warned yesterday that the SDLP would boycott the Policing Board if it felt the Patten report on police reform was seriously undermined by Mr Mandelson.

"If he gets policing right, we will nominate to the Policing Board. If he doesn't, we won't," Mr Mallon said.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein has criticised the SDLP for insisting it was leading the nationalist campaign to force amendments to the Bill. As Sinn Fein refuses to take its two Westminster seats, it will be for the SDLP's three MPs to put the nationalist case against elements of the Bill in the House of Commons.

But the Sinn Fein vice-president, Mr Pat Doherty, yesterday said his party had been involved in intensive lobbying to highlight flaws in the Bill. "I find the attitude of the SDLP self-serving, premature and opportunistic. The issue is too serious for that."

Mr Doherty is travelling to London today with fellow Sinn Fein MLA Mr Gerry Kelly to campaign against the Bill.