Mr. Trevor Lunn:

Mr. Francie Molloy made the point about unionists being prepared to listen to the message but having something of a hang-up if the message was coming from Sinn Féin. That is a valid point but perhaps it is not as serious now as it was. When I first joined the Northern Ireland Assembly, most DUP members would not turn their head to speak to Sinn Féin members. Those days are long gone. Some DUP people might surprise us by the extent to which there is conversation and co-operation displayed with Sinn Féin members. I hope no one takes this the wrong way, but I believe the idea of a citizens' assembly has to be led by citizens and not by Sinn Féin. This is because Sinn Féin by association, whether correct or otherwise, has baggage and this upsets unionists or some in the unionist communities. When I joined the assembly I made a conscious decision to treat everyone the same because everyone was there with the same mandate and people voted for them. I find that useful. I look around the screens. I have good friends on the screen, including some who have just departed. Some are members of Sinn Féin and the SDLP. There are nationalists and republicans. I do not really mind as long as they talk to me and I can talk to them.

How do we involve unionists? I said earlier there were some unionists who will never listen to this argument. However, I believe they are a diminishing band. My impression of unionism at the moment is that there is a substantial section prepared to listen and talk. Once they start, they may even develop some enthusiasm for it because the alternative is to cling on to a link with Britain when it is so painfully obvious that large sections of the British population do not see it as important.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn mentioned the Scottish situation. If Scotland votes to leave the union, then to me the union is finished. I cannot see any rationale for trying to maintain a united kingdom of three countries, one of which is Wales and another of which is Northern Ireland. I believe little England would come to the fore with English nationalism, and in no time at all we would be driven to another situation rather than working toward something with accommodation and compromise and coming up with something fair to everyone. It is not easy but it is about the long term.

I have to go down the road now to the Ballymurphy event. I am sorry to leave early but I really would like to be there for the start of that event. It is starting about now.