Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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54. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed with his UK counterparts the issue of the continued presence of the harp on the UK royal coat of arms to represent Ireland; his views that it is time to replace the harp with a more appropriate symbol in view of the fact that the harp was incorporated into the coat to represent all of Ireland before Irish independence and is now the emblem of the Irish State; if he will provide any reassurance to any citizen who is concerned about this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27684/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have not received any representations on the subject of the Deputy’s question nor had any discussions with the British authorities in regard to the presence of a harp on the royal coat of arms. I am however happy to assure the Deputy that the sensitivities around the use of flags and symbols is a matter to which I give very careful attention in my work to promote peace and reconciliation on this island. In this regard, he may also wish to note that a harp forms part of the crest of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.