Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Barrett is doing a great job. Mr. Hynes and Ms Walshe are very welcome. I am sure they will get the sense from members that we want to be supportive of Glencree's work. I wish to record my thanks for the work the centre has done over the past 45 years, it is ground-breaking. Glencree's geographic isolation helps with its work. It is not that easy for people to drift off or go out but it also brings people together on the one site which helps in discussions. People can meet and interact over a cup of tea or sandwich, which is one of its positive things.

The representatives spoke of funding and so on. We need to get a sense of what percentage of that they seek from the Government, from private sector and so on. Can they give a ballpark figure? They do not have to give us that today, but it would be helpful if we are making a recommendation to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Ms Walshe said that the centre would do more if it had more. I am trying to tease out what more it would do. We are all struck with the idea of the global champion for peace and reconciliation. That would involve the Irish Government being more vocal, taking the lead and new approaches on many issues. Is the international peace centre of excellence modelled on anything in other countries? Can the representatives expand on where it has worked elsewhere and how it could be tweaked?

I note what Ms Walshe said on Brexit. It brought fear, uncertainty and the potential for greater division on the island. The long shadow is still there and there is still potential. I read the appendix to the opening statement with which we were provided. Language is important. According to the appendix: "The threat of border polls along with the concept of a united Ireland being used as a weapon by some and a justification for a return to violence by others, has reignited old fears and tensions as people retreat towards their own tribe." To whom does this refer? I do not like the language referring to the tribal conflict. I am proud of the tradition that I come from which is very much a republican tradition. There are different traditions within republicanism. One of the successes of the current Sinn Féin leadership was that it convinced those who believed in the tradition of armed struggle that there was a peaceful way forward and part of that was a border poll.

We told people that if they believed in a united Ireland, there was a peaceful way to work towards that goal. A very important concept in the Good Friday Agreement was that there is a way forward towards unity and peace in Ireland. I am interested to hear what the witnesses have to say on that.

The work Glencree does is significant, not only for Ireland but also in creating a space for people from abroad to travel here and have these conversations. During the Irish peace process, it was felt necessary at one point for republicans or members of Sinn Féin to travel to South Africa when Nelson Mandela was the country's President. Unionists and others also travelled in those early days, which meant people could interact for the first time. Having people in the same room and having conversations was important.

We need to put our heads together collectively and see how we can move this project forward. It would enhance the view of Ireland held by people around the world. We have been through a troubled past. I like to think that conflict is behind us and we are moving into a new era. I am conscious that the political parties are sitting down in Stormont. I have every confidence that we can find an agreement to move on. We tend to look back. There is agreement among the parties on legacy issues. Many of the big issues on which there has been tension have been agreed in other meetings. It is about people putting their heads together and tweaking existing agreements.

I did not want to bring a negative note to the discussion but I would like the witnesses to expand on where they see the threat coming from with regard to a Border poll.