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

I welcome the contributions of our guests. I will add to what Senator Niall Blaney said. One message came across particularly clearly in the contributions of Ms Groogan, Mr. de Faoite, and Ms Eastwood. That was the frustration with the lack of progress on some political issues. We express frustration at times in regard to how slowly policies are implemented. However, this was clear in the witnesses' messages.

On other occasions in this committee, I have referred to a citizen's assembly which was mentioned by witnesses, including the Sinn Féin councillor from Derry City and Strabane District Council. Provision was made for a Civic Forum for Northern Ireland in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. That was first mooted in the multi-party talks. It was championed by the then Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, NIWC. Provision was made for that. The Civic Forum for Northern Ireland was established in 2000. It met last in 2002. In the Stormont House Agreement, provision was made for the establishment of a civic advisory panel. The purpose of a civic forum or advisory panel is to give a mechanism and means to consult civic society. Oftentimes, we get a better understanding of social, economic and cultural issues through these. Throughout the world, civic fora or advisory panels have been a popular feature of political work and the political process. Again, that has not been established in Stormont. Do the witnesses, within their own political parties, exert any pressure to have such a panel established?

They have all talked about the merit of an all-Ireland citizens' assembly. There is a mechanism in place, that, unfortunately, has not been implemented, where wider society could be consulted. Ms Eastwood said it is good to talk and listen and good for all of us to learn from other viewpoints as well. It struck me on the day we had Mr. Murphy of Ireland's Future that he agreed with me on that issue. He said a civic advisory panel or civic form could be a "tangible and meaningful" process within Stormont and the existing political architecture. Is there any momentum or any efforts made within the political parties to implement that aspect of the Stormont House Agreement and, indeed, of its predecessor, the Good Friday Agreement?

I welcome their contributions, as Senator Blaney said.