Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are meeting to discuss the impact of the recent protests in Belfast on the local retail sector. I am delighted to welcome back Mr. Glyn Roberts who is no stranger to the joint committee. He was here with the delegation from the Northern Ireland business trust in 2012. He is chief executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association. Obviously, members of the committee will have observations to make and questions to ask following his presentation. He will be aware that as a committee we travelled to Belfast on 22 and 23 November.

We had a very enriching experience when we met groups from both communities at the interface. We came away with a sense that a good deal of progress has been made and then on 3 December, a few weeks later, things changed. We know from the people we met from both communities that even at an interface level there is an overwhelming desire to progress. We as a committee would like to acknowledge the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland. We also would like to articulate the desire of this committee to act as a facilitator in a way that allows the representatives of their group and other groups the space to come before this committee and give their interpretation of the situation and to show a generosity of spirit for all communities and people who can offer constructive proposals. That is the view of this committee. We are delighted that the representatives are here today and we look forward to their presentation.