<P> All participants acknowledge the sensitivity of the use of symbols and emblems for public purposes, and the need in particular in creating the new institutions to ensure that such symbols and emblems are used in a manner which promotes mutual respect rather than division . </P> <P> Nationalists pointed to this to argue that the use of the Union Flag for official purposes should be restricted, or that the Irish tricolour should be flown alongside the British flag on government buildings . Sinn Féin ministers in the power - sharing Northern Ireland Executive instructed that the Union Flag was not to fly from buildings operated by their respective departments . This power was removed from ministers by virtue of the Flag Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 2000, mentioned above . </P> <P> All signatories to the Belfast Agreement also declare their acceptance of the' principle of consent' (i.e. that there will be no change to the constitutional position of Northern Ireland unless a majority votes for it), and Unionists argued that this provision amounts to recognising that the Union Flag is the only legitimate official flag in Northern Ireland . The problem was discussed in detail and various proposals made including suggestions for a new flag . </P> <P> In 2013, US diplomat Richard Haass chaired talks between the political parties in Northern Ireland dealing with, among other things, the issue of flags . The resulting draft proposals, which were not agreed by the parties, included the idea of a new flag for Northern Ireland, to replace the Ulster banner . </P>

Show me a picture of the northern ireland flag