Ms Noeleen Diver:

I will be very brief because Mr. McCann might want to say the last few words. I referred to the civic forum because I believed it was an attempt at the time to build in genuine civic engagement. The importance of that was seen. It had several problems associated with it, and maybe perceptions. For example, there were questions about whether it was a talking shop and whom it represented. Also questioned were the relationship between it and the elected representatives and its role. People asked what concrete possibilities could emerge from it. Several have referred to the positive experience that the Republic has had of a citizens' assembly so I think there are more possible ways of constructing what we were attempting to achieve under a civic forum. There are better possibilities.