Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I know Mr. Lunn has to leave. My thanks to him and Reverend Karen for their interesting contributions. These are not especially long questions. I know we keep going around the issue of the citizens' assembly. I am particularly interested in it. I was sceptical of the concept when such assemblies were set up first. Now I have become a big convert. The real incredible value of them is they are made up of regular Joes picked in a relatively random way and there is no alliance or allegiance. That is one of the great strengths. It is non-partisan and all of that.

Based on the conversation today in particular, the role of religious leaders North and South in the citizens' assembly and how that should play out is relevant. Is it that there may have to be two different forums? Does there have to be one forum and one assembly? Will the witnesses give any thoughts on how we integrate? I know several forums are happening at the moment, including the shared island forum and so on. What are the thoughts of the witnesses on that? Do we need to keep the citizens' assembly as it is in the sense it is made up of regular citizens or Joes? Is there a way to combine them or have them as separate things? How willing would unionist communities be to come to the table of a specific structure like the citizens' assembly?

The other question was for Mr. Lunn but I will ask Reverend Karen. In his opening statement Mr. Lunn mentioned the proper groundwork that needs to be done with unionist communities to reassure them their identity and culture will be protected in a united Ireland. Are there any further thoughts or expansion on the kind of key assurance the community would need from the South? From whom do those assurances need to come for them to be taken in good faith by the community?