Audio interview with Naomi Long, deputy leader of the Alliance Party, by Pat Kenny for RTE Radio 1 show Today with Pat Kenny on 11 December 2012. On 3 December Belfast City Council voted to only fly the Union flag above City Hall on designated days rather than the entire calendar year. The motion was supported by Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Alliance Party. This decision led to public protests by sections of the unionist community across Northern Ireland, but particularly in Belfast, during December 2012 and early January 2013. In some areas PSNI members were attacked and death threats were sent to Northern Ireland politicians including Long herself. Two DUP members were also warned of death threats apparently from dissident republicans during this period. Long is interviewed about the impact of these protests on the Peace Process. Today with Pat Kenny is RTE Radio 1’s daily current affairs programme.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 11 December 2012
Name of First Interviewee: Naomi Long
Role at time of Interview: Deputy leader of the Alliance Party and Alliance Party MP for Belfast East
Interviewer: Pat Kenny
Purpose: News
Media: Audio
Copyright: © RTÉ 2012
Link: Listen to the interview
Programme/Book/Article: RTE Radio 1 Today with Pat Kenny
Time Period covered: 2012
Key Individuals: Naomi Long
Key Words: Flag, UUP, protest, Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance Party, PSNI, violence, youth, democratisation