Mr. Neil McCann:

To respond to Deputy Conway-Walsh, I am not aware of any impediment to a citizens' assembly getting under way immediately. I would advocate that happening without delay.

There was a question directed towards Ms Diver but I will get back to Mr. Finucane first on the question of the Irish Government and its role in a Border poll. There is no law arising out of the Belfast Agreement. There are clauses in the agreement that refer to a role for both Governments but there is nothing in law that compels or enables the Irish Government to even be consulted or to allow the Executive or the Assembly in Northern Ireland to be consulted on a Border poll. It might be consulted. If the British are behaving with a degree of courtesy, it will be consulted.

I will be very direct. We are advocating in very clear terms that negotiations with the unionists be invited in advance of preparation for a Border poll and that things be put in that order. Mr. Finucane will probably disagree with my position on that, and fair enough. I respect that but our intervention here, so to speak, is to say that we should get discussions under way immediately. The very best outcome that we can recommend is that a border poll would be undertaken on foot of an agreement made among all the relevant parties. That is what we advocate. Reconciliation is a process that takes a long time. Reconciliation is ongoing. Conciliation is an approach that can take place immediately, and we are for that. Mr. Finucane and I may well differ on that but I hope that if we meet at some stage we will have a gentle pint and a bit of craic also. I respect there may be a difference of opinion on that but we are very clear that we want engagement on it now with everybody.

There was a question on an aspect of the work of the Civic Forum in 1998 that I think was directed towards Ms Diver. It was to elaborate on its effectiveness. I am sorry but I cannot remember if Ms Gildernew introduced that. I do not know if Ms Diver would like to comment on the matter.