Mr. Barry Andrews:

The timing of all of this is probably not ideal. Before we get anywhere near having these kinds of discussions, a settlement that needs to take place with regard to all of the issues we have spoken about this morning, namely, the institutional architecture of the trade and co-operation agreement, the re-energising of the architecture of the Good Friday Agreement and ensuring the east-west and North-South structures are restored. Nevertheless, these discussions are taking place at an academic level. I contributed to the papers now in circulation from the University of London and elsewhere, which identify some of the pitfalls that remain. The Brexit referendum is all we need to know about the dangers of holding a poll without knowing what the options are thereafter.