Ms Órfhlaith Begley:

I welcome the members of Ireland's Future to the meeting. I am delighted that Mr. Murphy has been joined by two formidable females. That was a great introduction from Reverend Karen to the committee. Before asking my questions, I commend Ireland's Future on the work it has been doing. I believe there was a vacuum in that regard and it has created a platform on which to engage and have a respectful discussion on the potential for future constitutional change. All who are involved in Ireland's Future are to be commended. I welcome the opportunity to engage with those who are before the committee today, as on the previous occasion. Hopefully, we can have a discussion which remains respectful of our guests and is informative for us as members of the committee and as representatives.

On the previous occasion, Mr. Murphy referred to the fact that the constitutional conversation is louder now than ever before. He specifically referred to Brexit and how it has accelerated the conversation by placing the focus on the need to prepare for a potential referendum. In terms of that preparation and taking into consideration what I have just heard from Reverend Karen, I would like to hear from her about her perspective on the current level of discussion that there is within the Protestant unionist loyalist, PUL, community or those who identify as British regarding future constitutional change. Within that, what specific issues or concerns does she think there are within the community or among those individuals who, perhaps, identify as unionist in respect of their cultural identity if there was to be reunification?

What protections or guarantees can be put in place to reassure members of that community, and individuals who identify as British, that their rights and cultural identity will be upheld? I thank the witnesses for their previous presentations and the presentation given this morning.