Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a couple of quick points and then a question. A point was made by Dr. Renwick on the imminence of a Border poll and he suggested evidence could change. They key point is that the evidence is changing. The witness made an earlier point about the need to prepare and stressed its importance strongly. Looking at a series of elections we can see the end of unionism's political majority and the political and societal fallout from Brexit. There is also the ever-growing series of polls pointing to a particular trend. The salient point is that the evidence is changing, and that is why there is such a strong argument for the necessary preparatory work to begin.

I agree with Deputy Brendan Smith on the very clear need, rationale and logic to holding votes on the same day North and South in a similar way to the process for ratifying the Good Friday Agreement. It is really important and welcome to hear it stressed again today with such energy the question of 50% plus one being sufficient. After all, that is democracy and it is in the Good Friday Agreement. We are, after all, the committee dealing with the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

The question of a citizens' assembly has been touched on but do the witnesses have a view on the matter of the institutions on these islands and those institutions that flow from the Good Friday Agreement playing a role in, assisting and enabling the work of preparing for constitutional change? As a Member of the Seanad, I am always encouraged by the fact that we can be nationally representative as an institution, as we have been in the past. We have that same potential over the next number of terms to represent a broad range of communities, including those that are traditionally under-represented. Separate to what the Irish and British Governments will do, do the witnesses believe there are roles for parliamentary institutions in facilitating, assisting and enabling the work advocated by the witnesses in the form of proper planning and engagement?