00:00The summer months we saw, we witnessed sickening displays of racist and sectarian hatred displayed
00:06on bonfires in Magashill, Derry and elsewhere. Deputy First Minister, do you believe these are
00:13legitimate expressions of culture or will you join with me in unequivocally condemning these
00:18displays of hate and calling for those responsible to be held to account? Thank you. You thank the
00:25member for his question. I think that throughout the year, sadly, we see demonstrations that
00:31have aspects of them that are hateful, that are unkind, that are unpalatable and that are
00:38entirely unacceptable. And this happens right throughout Northern Ireland from many different
00:44areas. And I have to say that, first of all, we should recognise that it is a small minority
00:50of people. When we look at what happened over the course of the summer and last summer, it
00:55is a minority of people that carry these out. I believe that the vast majority of people
01:01are opposed to it, are opposed to hate, are opposed to any threat, violence or intimidation.
01:07He will be aware that we are currently looking at a review of Together Build a United Community
01:12TBUC or Good Relations Strategy. And we've agreed to roll the FICT recommendations into that process
01:18as we move towards TBUC 2 to take into account some of these challenges. But I think it's important
01:24to say that there is also absolutely no role for any paramilitary symbols, flags, activity,
01:33glorification, whatever that may be, it is hugely hurtful to victims on all sides when
01:38those things happen. And I think that all of our displays of cultural identity, we should
01:43be respectful, but we should also then respect that as well. That does not happen. And we've
01:48seen the worst of that at times by a minority this summer.
01:51Mr McGuigan. Thank you. Deputy First Minister mentioned TBUC and executive strategies. But
01:58Deputy First Minister, in light of these incidents, as well as the serious health concerns and environmental
02:03concerns and risks posed by bonfires, do you agree that the current unregulated approach isn't
02:10happening and that political action is needed to end this cycle of illegal, dangerous and
02:15hate-filled bonfires?
02:17Deputy First Minister.
02:18Deputy First Minister.
02:19Thank you, Mr Speaker. Look, again, it's important to point out that across Northern Ireland every
02:23year, there are hundreds and hundreds of bonfires, the vast majority of which are carried out
02:28in an absolutely peaceful way as part of a community celebration. Of course, Northern Ireland
02:33is not unique to that. The culture of bonfire building as a form of commemoration and celebration
02:39is something that is common in many different places outside of Northern Ireland as well.
02:46There are a minority of cultural events and expressions, not just in relation to bonfires,
02:53but across many different types of expression that do cause offence. Those are key issues for
03:01us to tackle in terms of moving forward with that review. They're not easy issues to tackle,
03:07but again, I would reassure everybody listening to always remember that this is a small minority
03:12that we do need to take on. Of course, the vast, vast majority of these are cultural celebrations
03:17and commemorations carried out in an appropriate way.
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