Alliance councillor Sam Nelson has urged consistent enforcement of planning regulations following Belfast City Council's announcement on enforcement concerning a Bobby Sands statue erected on public land in west Belfast without permission.

Alliance Belfast City Councillor Sam Nelson said the rules must apply equally to everyone after the council set out its position on how planning rules would be enforced in this case.

Cllr Nelson has said: "The planning process exists for a reason, and no one should be above it. "The unregulated display of flags, symbols, murals and statues without due process remains a problem here. Rules around the use of public land must be followed in all cases and decisions around enforcement must be applied equally right across the board, or we risk undermining public confidence in that process.

"We must have a planning system that is fair and that people have faith in. Whilst we seek clarity around how authorities came to this particular decision, Alliance will continue working to ensure better regulation of flags, murals, emblems and memorials in our city."