Ms Áine Groogan:

I question what Senator Blaney said as well in terms of going into a room and getting stuff done. Much like what Mr. de Faoite said, the one good example of that in Northern Ireland is councils. It is often forgotten how well councils in Northern Ireland operate. We have genuine power-sharing on most councils across Northern Ireland and we get on with the day-to-day work. There is the odd argument - do not worry about that - but we get on with the day-to-day issues. That can often get lost. I work just as well with some of the DUP councillors as I do with the Sinn Féin, with Alliance, SDLP and People Before Profit. We all work well together. One has to. I am one of four Green Party councillors in Belfast. If I want anything done, I must work with other parties. I hope we do so quite successfully.

What I would say on the shared island unit is that it is good to see it coming forward. It had to happen. As I said in my opening statement, climate knows no borders.

Many other issues know no borders - east, west, north and south. Anything that helps increase that dialogue and helps us work on common issues is important. There is an idea that they are focusing firmly on creating a united Ireland. That is not right, but it is important that we work on those issues and have those conversations - and they are difficult conversations. Whether we like it, we share Northern Ireland. The UK and Ireland share an island and a Border. That is the reality. We need to start grappling with that more and with the hard issues. There is not going to be a perfect space here but we have to learn to get on with it and get work done. There is more that unites us than divides us. We are often caught up in binaries that are not helpful or conducive to getting work done. I hope the new political leaders coming through can start to break down those barriers a little more. We are coming with slightly less baggage than some of the older generation.

We have also been supportive of the civic forum. We have seen civic society move on that in Northern Ireland with the Building Change Trust starting that model a couple of years ago through a pilot project. It is necessary. In my opening statement, I said that the people's agreement has been changed without the consent of the people. Something like a civic forum would be a useful way to revitalise the political institutions in Northern Ireland. It is about giving the power back to the people in terms of what they want to see and to move on. Mr. de Faoite mentioned the examples in the South where people were very much ahead of the politicians. If it had been left to the Dáil, we would still be in the same position in respect of the eighth amendment. We saw what happened when the power was given to the people and their voices could shine through.

I will wind it up there. I have covered most of the points I wanted to.