Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for their presentations. I apologise that I missed some of the meeting earlier because I had difficulty getting connected. In one of his responses, Mr. Murphy made a point on detailed preparation for what I, along with others, want to see in the future, which is constitutional change on our island. Like many others, I aspire to a united Ireland to be achieved through the mechanisms laid out in the Good Friday Agreement. It is extremely important that detailed preparation is made in every respect.

Something I have repeated ad nauseam at this committee is the need to utilise and maximise the potential of the existing agreements and political architecture in place already with the Good Friday Agreement, the Stormont House Agreement and the New Decade, New Approach agreement. All of these are important pieces of the political architecture on this island, predominantly the Good Friday Agreement. I have always believed it is most disappointing that all of its aspects have not been implemented. We know how important the commitments made in the New Decade, New Approach agreement are and we sincerely hope they will be honoured without delay for the benefit of all of the people of the island.

At our previous meeting at which Reverend Karen was present, Mr. Lunn left us to go to the announcement of the results of the inquest into the Ballymurphy massacre when I was making my contribution. I mentioned the issue of the civic forum in Northern Ireland and I suggested that perhaps Reverend Karen would discuss it with Mr. Lunn as a member of the legislative assembly. From memory, in the multiparty talks, the Women's Coalition was a powerful advocate for a civic forum. Subsequently, as a result of signing the Good Friday Agreement, the Civic Forum was established in 2000. Unfortunately, it has not met since 2002. Its purpose was to have a means of consulting civic society to ensure better understanding of social, economic and cultural issues. We all know that such assemblies or fora are prevalent throughout the world and are associated with various parliaments and parliamentary systems. I have always believed there has been a huge lacuna without the Civic Forum to involve and engage civic society.

The contributions we have heard from Ms Harmon, Reverend Karen and Mr. Murphy have focussed very much on involving civic society. They speak about a citizens' assembly. We have provision for a civic advisory panel that, unfortunately, has not been put in place or used at present. I am not saying it would solve the problems of our country but were the politicians to put that structure in place to ensure the different voices all the witnesses have spoken about today could be listened to, it would be an important message to give out to civic society in Northern Ireland about the mechanism provided for in the Good Friday Agreement and Stormont House Agreement.

If I got the message coming from the young people Reverend Karen quoted, it was about the need to listen and consult. The witnesses are advocating very strongly on the potential for an all-Ireland citizens' assembly. Will they comment on the deficiency we have at present in not having the Civic Forum? It could contribute something to the general debate, not just on constitutional issues but economic, social and cultural issues also.