Should the Irish Army be used to stop British Loyalists from flying a flag that may offend people?

Absolutely, there hasn’t been a full scale war in Ireland for almost a hundred years. It might help them all wise up.

PS - The Union Jack doesn’t even fly on top of Buckingham Palace every day of the year. What makes the City Hall in Belfast so special that it’s the only building in the UK to fly the Union Jack permanently for the past hundred years?

Maybe they should erect a statue of the founder of the IRA outside Stormont alongside Edward Carson ( the founder of the Ulster Volunteers and the forerunner to the Ulster Volunteer Force UVF ) to even things up a bit and not cause offence to some who work there and as a tribute to those who like to live in the past.

As for the ‘riots’, they’re hardly worthy of being called riots in the context of Northern Ireland. Just bored people with no future in a now declining economy who want something to do. I did say three years ago that if the Tories got in, then they would stir things up again in Northern Ireland with increased cuts to benefits, increased unemployment and by slashing the 2/3 of the Northern Irish economy formed by the public sector but they didn’t listen. Things can only get worse in Northern Ireland with this government.

I’m still an advocate of an independent Northern Ireland free from the shackles of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

It's an inaccurate comparison as it's not the responsibility of the RoI army to maintain law and order on territory which, through the democratic process, is politically speaking part by another country.

As a British person. I'd love it Northern ireland had been governed from the south throughout the Troubles. it wouldn't have stopped the people there from trying to kill each other but at least it would have someone else's problem, not ours.

To make out that forcing N. Ireland to join the south against its own people's wishes would have solved the problem is a bit stupid really. Sorry.

Ever since the Good Friday agreement, the Union flag has flown over the City Hall in Belfast WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE.

Now, because someone decided NOT to fly it every day, rioting has broken out.

Is it just too simple to say, PUT IT BACK UP ?

Northern Ireland is actually part of the United Kingdom. That is the way the majority want it to be. They are entitled to fly the Union flag as much and as often as they wish. (Get used to it)

Flags mean something. The national flag is only to be used in front of national institutions. This comes from the days when the King, or major Lords would have a banner by them, showing who they were. People in the United States began using their flag as a patriotic gesture. This idea has spread somewhat, but, it is still illegal in many countries for a private citizen to fly a national flag - because, they are not an arm of the Crown/government. Technically, flying the flag is saying: "I'm the King." You aren't, so, you can only fly your own flag, if you are entitled to one.

I'm English and say it is not my business to fight any Irishmen...North or South

What ever happens they are ALL my brothers so we (as in England) must not support any violence in Ireland against one another.

I love the flag but hope Irish people will talk with me and we shall always help one another.

My Dad fought in WW2 along with Irish,Welsh and Scots.

We should not employ any army to fight it's own people.

Let them tear our flag down if they wish and lets all live in peace.

ah someone who points out that the british government was wrong 30 years ago, but wants to copy the same mistake with the Irish goverment, makes perfect sense...

No, it will probably cause a backlash making things worse!

NB: i agree, independent Northern Ireland!

If that happened an Act of War would exist.