Mr. Tom Arnold:

When we look back over the decades, if someone had said in 1988 which was a difficult year that in ten years we would have something of the complexity and sophistication of the Good Friday Agreement, many would not have believed it. We have a body of, if one likes, creative political possibilities built into it and while perhaps much of it still unrealised, it is still a framework within which to move forward. What Mr. Durkan said about the possibilities presented by strand 2 which are yet to be realised may be very relevant. Our starting point must be that the European Union sees the creation of a framework for an agreement and the delivery of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent events as important achievements not to be gone back on. That is the political context in which we consider how we should deal with the remarkably difficult Brexit challenge.

There is comment in the press on whether we are going about this in the right way and if it is being taken seriously enough at a national level. My sense is that the answer is "Yes". I think there is a high level of commitment at the centre of both the Government and the Civil Service, although it may not be seen adequately. One has to realise that the big decisions will ultimately be taken at head of Government level. Therefore, the Brexit Minister has to be the Taoiseach and strategic thinking must be brought to bear to reflect how important the issue is. However, it cannot be left to the Government alone. The parliamentary system and wider civil society have important roles to play. We all have a responsibility. This comes back to the point about the evidence of the potential impact and the solutions to deal with it.