Mr. Richard Neal:

Yes, I would be more than happy personally to help to audit the agreement as it was originally reached. We could do that, I think, with great authority after a special envoy is named here. I think that that would be very helpful to the process as well as we engage.

As Cathaoirleach Daly pointed out, my mother's family, the Garveys, hail from Ventry that is located on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. I wish to add that one of my grandmothers was born in Banbridge, County Down. Senator Ó Donnghaile mentioned Belfast. If anybody ever wants to see the success of what the peace dividend has meant then they can take a look at Belfast today. I know that there are always challenges and hurdles but it is amazing to see what has happened to the city. When I visited the city 30 years ago, it was war torn, but today there is a fledgling sense of optimism and new prosperity, much of which can be attached to the success of the Good Friday Agreement. I also think that the announcement about a new investment made by the UK Government promotes the idea of all-Ireland institutions, which we thing are essential. For the better part of decades tourists from across America who had relatives who were from the North never visited because the daily reports of strife in the region kept millions of people from visiting, particularly from visiting the spectacular vista along the coast. All of that is a reminder of a new day. There are now two generations of children who have grown up without knowing the violence and mayhem that confronted people every day in that small geographic area. Men and women of goodwill have helped to forge the path forward.

I appreciate the invitation and my committee are enthusiastic about visiting in the spring or early summer because we want to witness some of the success that our dimension has provided to this process.