Ms Claire Hanna:

I apologise as I am in transit to an appointment. I could not get changed so I am going to keep my camera off.

I thank the witnesses. I do not have a large number of questions because I squeezed a lot in the last time. On the discussion of dates, I do not think we are ready. For the past several decades, our material well-being and day-to-day outcomes in Northern Ireland, let alone the project of reconciliation, are often overlooked and overshadowed by focus on the constitutional issues from both perspectives. There is a kind of a jam tomorrow conversation generally. That is not in any way denying or thwarting the conversation that is definitely under way. It is just a comment on all the stuff that requires to be done, regardless of constitutional outlook, as well as the day-to-day stuff one has to get through as an elected representative.

Professor Harvey suggested May 2023 for a referendum. Does he think that is achievable? On the comment about the continuity, or otherwise, of the Northern institutions, it has been the position of both the SDLP and Sinn Féin that they would continue. Richard Humphrey's legal opinion is that there is no sunset clause on them. Does Professor Harvey see merit in them continuing, both in terms of a kind of a forum through which to manage ongoing issues around equality and so on in the North and to facilitate some of the protections currently there for nationalists? The outcome of a border poll, one way or the other, does not solve all of our problems.

Does Professor Harvey see any potential in following other forms of devolution that might be prompted by having a Northern Assembly, whether that is opportunities for the north west and Donegal to participate in that? Does he see devolution being a regional parliament for Cork? Does he see basically the presence of a Northern Assembly stimulating conversations about other forms of devolution of power, such as an enhancement of the role of county councils? I noted he said that they are not set in stone. What vision does he have for them and what conversations might they promote more widely?