Remembrance poppies set to be sold at Stormont following apparent delay
The matter was raised at Parliament Buildings by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston on Monday.
Remembrance poppies are set to be sold at Stormont following an apparent delay.
Days before Remembrance Sunday, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston raised a concern as to whether poppies were not going to be sold at Northern Ireland’s seat of government this year.
Raising a point of order in the Assembly chamber on Monday, Mr Gaston contended there “isn’t one poppy box” in Parliament Buildings.
“As we enter this period of reflection for the sacrifice and service given by our armed forces, I am genuinely shocked that there isn’t one poppy box throughout Parliament Buildings collecting for the Royal British Legion,” he said.
“Why is the Assembly this year not collecting?
“If so, is that a decision taken by the Assembly Commission, as chair of the Assembly Commission I trust you will take whatever steps you need to ensure there will be poppies on sale from tomorrow onwards.”
Responding, Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots said: “That decision wasn’t taken by the Assembly Commission, so I will investigate it.”
In a statement later, a spokesperson for the Assembly Commission said: “There has been no change to the normal arrangements in relation to the period of Remembrance.
“The Assembly Commission normally receives a supply of poppy boxes, however this delivery has not yet been received and officials have already been in contact with the Royal British Legion to have poppies and collection boxes delivered at the earliest opportunity.
“The Speaker wrote to MLAs last week to confirm the normal arrangements for the Act of Remembrance to be held at Parliament Buildings on November 11.”