STAFF at a council in Northern Ireland could soon be allowed to wear an Easter lily, which remembers Republicans who died in the 1916 Rising.
Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council approved the move at a committee meeting on Tuesday evening.
The decision will now be voted on at a full council meeting in the coming weeks, where it is expected to pass.
Sinn Féin and the nationalist SDLP hold a combined 24 seats on the 40-seat council.
Poppy comparison
Sinn Féin councillor Mickey Cooper, who sat on the working group that considered the issue, welcomed the decision, comparing the Easter lily to the Remembrance Poppy.
“This was considered by the working group over a lengthy period of time during which we took the advice of the Equality Commission and trade unions,” he said.
“There was cross-party representation on the group, including from the DUP and UUP, and when the evidence was considered, it was clear that the wearing of Easter lilies – just like the poppy – is entirely consistent with a harmonious and inclusive working environment.
“All parties on the working group endorsed the recommendation to introduce this policy and that is clearly a positive example of inclusive politics working in practice.
“I now look forward to the proposal going forward to the next full council meeting in December.
“I would also urge other councils across the north to follow this positive example of inclusive and respectful policy development.”
Opposition
Members of the DUP however have expressed their opposition to the proposal.
East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell told the Newsletter the symbol could cause offence to those who lost loved ones in the Troubles, while Councillor David Ramsey said opposing councillors could invoke a ‘call-in’ procedure to have the matter reconsidered.
Should the motion succeed, staff would be allowed to wear the Easter lily for one week up to Easter Sunday, just as staff are currently allowed to wear a poppy for the same length of time over the period of Remembrance Sunday.
The Equality Commission currently classes the Easter lily as a symbol ‘with the potential to cause disharmony’ in the workplace but says it is for each employer to make its own decision.
