Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas le Niall Murphy as an chur i láthair cuimsitheach atá leagtha amach aige ar maidin. Bhí sé iontach maith. Gabhaim buíochas leis freisin as teacht os comhair an choiste. Mr. Murphy made a compelling presentation on the sheer volume of work that Ireland's Future has been involved in. The research it has been doing leaves so many others in its wake with regard to the necessary work and the very impressive and positive engagement and outreach it is doing with other communities. I acknowledge this and it is very important that the committee does so.

The volume of work and range of engagement is reflective of the discourse and debate that is live in our society. In many ways, the Oireachtas and the Irish Government in bringing together a citizens' assembly would need to catch up with this discourse and the debate out there already. Recently, we took a positive step when the Seanad agreed an amendment to call on the Irish Government to establish a citizens' assembly. I want to get Mr. Murphy's views on the political and symbolic importance of this and where it rests in the broader discourse.

Much of this relates to aspects of the Good Friday Agreement and the various grounds. Within this context, unilateral decisions can be taken and moves can be taken by the Irish Government, one of which would be the convening of a citizens' assembly, and a range of others that are non-threatening and would in no way undermine the structures of the Good Friday Agreement. They would be entirely in keeping with constitutional and other political obligations.

What are the views of Mr. Murphy on a call for the Irish Government to hold a referendum on extending presidential voting rights to citizens outside the State, obviously to include those of us who are Irish in the North? The Government tells us that in the course of the pandemic it is unable to hold a referendum, and we all accept this given the restrictions placed upon us. It is a necessary and required obligation the Government needs to fulfil. Is this something on which Ireland's Future will engage with the Irish Government?