'Failure to fly flags at half-mast for Pope Francis crosses a line,' says Tipperary TD

Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath has described the failure of Government to immediately lower the national flag to half-mast at Government Buildings, as a mark of respect following the death of Pope Francis, as a calculated snub operating behind the guise of official protocol.

The Independent TD said he had been contacted by a significant number of people who questioned why the Government was refusing to lower the flag until Saturday April 26, the day of the former Pontiff’s funeral-unlike on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth’s death on September 8, 2022 when a statement was issued by the then Government to confirm that the Irish flag would be lowered to half-mast at Government Buildings that evening:

“We had a lot of warm words from both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste following the death of the Holy Father, but unfortunately they have not been matched by the clear statement of national solidarity and respect that the lowering of the flag represents.

READ NEXT: Books of condolence to Pope Francis to open in Tipperary today

“There is no excuse for it given the unique place that Francis held and holds in the lives of the people of the majority faith on this island. It is an egregious diplomatic and political failure that needs to be rectified.

“I can only conclude that while this is a disheartening and upsetting episode, it is not surprising given the virulent anti-Catholicism that we have seen emerge in our national political discourse over the last number of years.

“The Holy Father was not just the Pope he was also a colleague in international relations and a head of state. He deserved better than this cold and officious treatment at a time when we are all mourning his loss.”

READ NEXT: Tipperary Community First Responders fundraising for live saving equipment