Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----and has removed any suggestion whatsoever. What was being attempted and what happened at the previous meeting was unbecoming of Oireachtas members.

Now, to get on to the serious business of this committee and put questions to people who are in the business of building relationships in the North of Ireland about the work they are doing. I thank Reverend Karen for her thoughtful and excellent contributions thus far and at previous meetings of this committee. I believe it is important, particularly for people in the South - in the Twenty-six Counties - to understand that when we talk about unionism, it is a broad church in the North. It is not all DUP voters. And also, many people who vote DUP do so because they want to remain within the United Kingdom. They do not necessarily agree with that party and all its different points of view, however. It is very complicated and multifaceted. Perhaps Reverend Karen could talk more about the engagements Ireland's Future is having with the unionist and loyalist community in the North and also about the multiple layers. She described the layers and colours in her own family. I believe that is a healthy thing in a healthy democratic society. I hope to see more of that in the new Ireland I intend to be a part of.

If we could deal with that issue, it would really cover it. Again, I want to put on record how angry I was when I read the comments of what happened at the previous meeting, and how pleased I am to hear that the Cathaoirleach made it clear that this person does not in any way reflect the views of the cross-party Good Friday Agreement party in the Oireachtas. I congratulate all three witnesses, who are respected people in their own right, on the excellent work they are doing.