Mr. Dáithí O'Ceallaigh:

They will be lengthy and difficult negotiations. The British will argue for their interests which it will try to protect and advance. On the other side, we will have the European Union. During the course of the discussion many of the Irish and Northern Irish interests within the framework of the Good Friday Agremeent have been expressed. They can be protected in the negotiations, but civil society, the committee and people such as us have to ensure those conducting the negotiations - those representing the European Union - are made aware of these concerns through the Government and Irish public servants. I agree fully with Mr. Arnold. The Government is and has been on top of this for a long time, although it is not necessarily speaking very much in public, which is understandable. However, I do not think we can be complacent. This is probably the biggest issue that has faced the country for a long time, but we have been successful. Think of where we were 40 years ago and where we are now. We can protect our interests.

While I accept fully that the Brexit vote, in large measure, was an expression of English and perhaps Welsh nationalism, just as I accept the Trump vote in the United States expressed a certain American nationalism, I do not detect any evidence in London that anyone wants to damage the Good Friday Agreement. I do not think the British want to return to direct rule. No one I know in London wants to go back to where we were 20 or 30 years ago. There is an opportunity for people like those on the committee who support the Good Friday Agreement. Some of the ideas Mr. Durkan proposed are well worth keeping on the table.