Ms Patricia King:

We believe this is crucial in terms of the stream of funding that comes from the EU and the job it does in Northern Ireland. The Government would have a key role in making the argument that a stream of funding for Northern Ireland should be guaranteed based on the importance of the work that is done on foot of it. If we had the appalling vista that there was a cut-off in that funding into the communities where it is utilised, we can imagine the damage that would do. As to whether it is the UK Government that commits to that, that will be part of the negotiations. It is extremely important that the UK Government accepts that this funding is vital for Northern Ireland to maintain all the very good work that is being done, much of it which goes unnoticed but it is extremely important. The Irish Government could be very influential with the UK Government in making sure that this stream of funding continues.