Fermanagh District Council will work with 'all communities and to facilitate any group or body who wished to address the matter of the flying of flags'. This policy was confirmed by Councillors at Monday night's meeting.
The discussion was raised following a request from Fermanagh Trust that the Council should reconsider this decision which was reached in July 2004, and, instead, develop a Civic Charter on Flags and Emblems and Positive Cultural Celebrations.
Councillor Frank Britton said that while he acknowledged the Council's position, he felt compelled to raise the issue following some of the things he had seen over the summer. He said the problem arose in some areas where there was no 'identifiable community leadership' to facilitate dialogue. He spoke in particular about the Chanterhill and Coa Road areas of Enniskillen, and he suggested that the flying of flags could have a detrimental effect not only on businesses, but also in attracting tourists into an area.
"They are not conducive to people feeling comfortable and at home."
Mr Britton said he had been in Lisbellaw three weeks ago, and he claimed, 'it was coming down with flags'. This did nothing to show the good community relations in this area.
He suggested there was sometimes a need for the Council to be pro-active in looking to try and get a solution.
However, the Ulster Unionist Councillor, Tom Elliott, urged caution. He said that while he agreed with Councillor Britton, this a very delicate matter. There was, he went on, a great deal of work goes on behind the scenes, some of which has been successful and some not. He felt there was no one answer which will fit all situations.
Sinn Féin's Thomas O'Reilly agreed that it was difficult to find one solution for the issue, and stressed the need to work with individual communities.
The DUP's Arlene Foster quoted the example of Lisnaskea as an area which must be applauded for how they dealt with the issue of flags. She explained flags had been erected for the Twelfth of July period, but had been taken down in time to allow GAA flags to be flown later in the month.
The Chief Executive, Rodney Connor, reminded Councillors that this was a very sensitive issue. However, he agreed it could be discussed further at the next meeting of the Environmental Services Committee.
Mr Britton then suggested that perhaps representatives from areas where the issue was being successfully managed, such as Lisnaskea, could be invited along to talk about how they deal with it.
