Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are talking about a shared island. Looking around the room, I see one major group missing. What engagement was there with official unionism or political unionism in the North of Ireland before the Taoiseach's announcement was made, or is this a solo run on the part of the Irish Government? I wonder if any unionists are employed on the shared island project. I see Dr. Farry looking at me. I recognise that he comes from the much larger, broader unionist community. There is a lot of talk here about capital projects. Capital projects do not build collegiality, communities or the sort of united people I would like to see on this island. What plans does the shared island unit have in that regard? I know it is dealing with civic engagement groups or civic groups, but political groups are where the polarisation has taken place in Northern Ireland, and I want to know what the shared island unit is doing to fix that. What I would really like to know is what plans it has to unlock the locked section of unionism that does not engage? I have been sitting on this committee for four years now and I have never seen anybody from the unionist community, although Dr. Farry has appeared over recent months.

Finally, some people would say that what we have spoken about today would happen anyway, so what is there that is new?