Reverend Karen Sethuraman:

I thank Ms Hanna for her words and leadership.

It is great the SDLP has set up the New Ireland Commission. There is room for everyone. All of the groups can complement and inform one another and work together. There is no reason there cannot be a sense of togetherness in a citizens' assembly. I love the range of stellar and good people from all walks of life that the New Ireland Commission has pooled together, while also recognising the work of other groups.

To add to what has been stated, we are a wounded people. Speaking as a minister, my heart aches today for the Ballymurphy families. It is a heavy day. My prayers are for all the families and the people standing with them. We all stand together on this.

As to dealing with the past, I do not have the answers. There are great people working on the ground with the deep wounds we will carry into our conversations. Those wounds cannot be something on which we shut the door. When we are wounded, we can sometimes get caught up looking into all we know, but the way to solvitur ambulando, that is, walk our way through that, is to provide fresh vision. Fresh vision can provide hope and a way forward even when we have to walk wounded. All of us have been wounded by the past. Our common ground is that there is room for fresh vision. I do not view the wounds of our past as something on which a door should be closed. They are part of who we are, but we can walk wounded and have been doing so. However, we need to ask ourselves whether we can remain in this place or if we are ready to embrace a fresh vision of a better future.