Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the witnesses for their presentations. I have only one point to ask a question on so I will probably not take up the ten minutes. It is along the lines of what a previous witness, Colum Eastwood, said and relates to the suitability of the mechanisms we currently have to hand to call a referendum. The executive summary states: "The form of consent in the South is not specified, but our conclusion is that a referendum would be needed." In the Republic there are two types of referendums allowed for in the Constitution. One refers to an amendment of the Constitution and another which would take place if the President received a joint petition from both Houses of the Oireachtas, that is, the Dáil and the Seanad. The petition would set out that a proposed Bill would be of such national importance that the will of the people of Ireland should be found out before it became law. This is slightly blue-sky thinking because I suppose we would have to have a referendum to change it but is Dr. Renwick of the opinion that these options are a satisfactory mechanism through which to hold a referendum in the South on Irish unity? Does the Oireachtas need to consider how we would fulfil that mandate? Dr. Renwick discussed the Secretary of State and the issues around how that referendum would be called in other jurisdictions. I am interested in the actual process of doing it. Do we have the facilities to do that in a way that would bring people with us? I am sorry for what may be a meandering question and ask Dr. Renwick to bear with me.