
1 

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and shall come into force on 11th November 2000.
(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.
2 

(1) The Union flag shall be flown at the government buildings specified in Part I of the Schedule to these Regulations on the days specified in Part II of the Schedule.
(2) The Union flag shall be flown on the days specified in Part II of the Schedule at any other government building at which it was the practice to fly the Union flag on notified days in the period of 12 months ending with 30th November 1999.
(3) In paragraph (2), “notified days” means days notified by the Department of Finance and Personnel to other Northern Ireland Departments as days for the flying of the Union flag at government buildings during the period of 12 months ending with 30th November 1999.
(4) Where a government building specified in Part I of the Schedule has more than one flag pole, the European flag shall be flown in addition to the Union flag on Europe Day.
3 

(1) On the occasion of a visit to a government building by a Head of State other than Her Majesty The Queen, the Union flag may be flown at that building.
(2) Where on that occasion the Union flag is flown at that building and the building has more than one flag pole, the national flag of the country of the visiting Head of State may also be flown at that building on that occasion.
4 

(1) On the occasion of a visit to a government building by Her Majesty The Queen, the Royal Standard shall be flown at that building.
(2) Where the government building concerned has more than one flag pole, the Union flag shall also be flown at that building on the occasion of Her Majesty’s visit.
5 

(1) Where Regulation 2, 3 or 4 requires or permits the flying of a flag at a government building, the flag in question shall be flown at full mast, provided that:
(a) where Regulation 2(4) or 3(2) requires or permits the flying of a flag in addition to the Union flag, that flag shall not be flown in a superior position to the Union flag; and
(b) where Regulation 4 requires the flying of the Royal Standard and the Union Flag, the Royal Standard shall be flown in a superior position.
(2) Where Regulation 2, 3 or 4(2) requires or permits the flying of a flag at a government building, it shall be flown from 8am until sunset on the day in question.
(3) Where Regulation 4(1) requires the Royal Standard to be flown at a government building, it shall be flown whilst Her Majesty is present in the building.
6 
Following the death of a member of the Royal Family, or of a serving or former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Union flag shall be flown at half mast at the government buildings specified in Part 1 of the Schedule, on such days as may be notified in the Belfast Gazette.
7 
Where Regulation 2(1), 2(2), 3(1) or 6 requires or permits the Union flag to be flown at a government building, or where Regulation 4(1) requires the Royal Standard to be flown at such a building, the Union flag may be flown in the same manner on the same day at any other government building.
8 
Where Regulation 2(4) or 3(2) requires or permits the flying of a flag in addition to the Union flag at a government building, that flag may be flown in the same manner on the same day at any other government building which has more than one flagpole, provided that the Union flag is also flown.
9 
Except as provided by these Regulations, no flag shall be flown at any government building at any time.
Peter Mandelson
One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State
Dated 8th November 2000
SCHEDULE
Regulation 2
Part I

 Adelaide House, Adelaide Street, Belfast.
 Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast
 Churchill House, Victoria Square, Belfast.
 Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Belfast.
 Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast.
 Netherleigh House, Massey Avenue, Belfast.
 Rathgael House, Balloo Road, Bangor, County Down.

Part II
20th January Birthday of The Countess of Wessex
6th February Her Majesty’s Accession
19th February Birthday of The Duke of York
A day in March to be notified by publication in the Belfast Gazette on or before 31st January annually Commonwealth Day
10th March Birthday of The Earl of Wessex
17th March St Patrick’s Day
21st April Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen
9th May Europe Day
A day in June to be notified by publication in the Belfast Gazette on or before 31st January annually Official Celebration of Her Majesty’s Birthday
2nd June Coronation Day
10th June Birthday of The Duke of Edinburgh
4th August Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
15th August Birthday of The Princess Royal
21st August Birthday of The Princess Magaret
12th November 2000 and, in subsequent years, a Sunday in November to be notified by publication in the Belfast Gazette on or before 31st January annually Remembrance Day
14th November Birthday of The Prince of Wales
20th November Her Majesty’s Wedding Day