Mr. Neil McCann:

The idea of having a citizens' assembly is included in the proposal, and specifically, to have it right away. It could be on an all-Island basis or at whatever level is considered workable. There could be a citizens' assembly that is based entirely in the South or in the North or they could be linked together. I would favour an all-Island citizens' assembly to address all issues in relation to this and to have an open agenda in respect of our constitutional future. I have attended a number of Ireland's Future events - maybe as many as seven. I know Professor Colin Harvey slightly, and several others who are connected with the group. I have also seen the Senator speak in Newry among other places. That contribution is certainly respected and I am happy to accompany it on those terms.

As to the question of how a Border poll may be triggered, some of the potential problems are very unlikely to emerge. However, if the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland happened to be interviewed about something entirely different and was asked by a sharp interviewer whether he had formed any view on the likely success of a Border poll in Ireland - for example, if he was dealing with the topic of Brexit or something to do with Britain - he could be caught on the hop. The background to that might be that the LucidTalk poll next week is likely to show that there is an increase in the number in Northern Ireland who favour unity. If the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland were to be asked about that poll and replied that, indeed, it looked like there was an increase in those in favour of unity, a statement like that could be taken as the Secretary of State forming an opinion on which a Border poll must be held and over which somebody would go to court in Belfast and try to force the issue.

That is one scenario or that could happen, for example, in an unguarded social moment. I see no evidence at the moment that the British would dare try to call a Border poll voluntarily, on the basis that unionism, if one likes, would gain another seven years because it would be locked out for that period of time. I cannot see that, although the level of mistrust and deviancy in political contact in Britain is a bit staggering at times. All sides understand that quite clearly.