Dr. Etain Tannam:

I thank the members for the questions. On the question of institutional engagement, our focus was very much within the Good Friday Agreement forms of co-operation, including intergovernmental processes. The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly is another institution under strand 3 that has not been used very widely. That was the focus and my colleagues might correct me if I am wrong but we did not give huge attention to other forms of institutional co-operation east-west or across borders in the context of a referendum.

That is apart from examining the citizens' assembly idea.

Second, on the issue of the citizens' assembly going ahead without unionist engagement but with civic unionist engagement and not being cautious because, as Ms Gildernew argued, this would more or less be a unionist veto, my colleagues will agree that we grapple with that issue a lot in terms of the balance. The interim report sets out the criteria for a referendum and inclusivity and stability are the two criteria that came to my mind the most. The balance is to be struck between being inclusive and having open debate, but also maintaining stability. Regardless of whether a group is a minority, we know that instability can occur if the timing is not correct or the processes are not done in such a way whereby there is a sense of a voice being given. I agree it is a conundrum but my understanding, and the feeling in the report, was that the timing of a citizens' assembly is crucial to maintain stability and also allow inclusivity.