Ms Anna Mercer:

I would add that one of the things that is slightly not optimum in terms of citizens' assemblies for Northern Ireland is that, unlike in the Republic where it is a constitutional convention, there is no legal footing for it. You do not want to just have one that is a talking shop. That would be probably a bit pointless. We want to have something that functions and contributes towards policy-making. It is really important that it has buy-in and that it is given its space.

One of the things when we were delivering an adult social care citizens' assembly a few years ago was about looking at the question and making sure what you are asking people. With Brexit, for example, there was much criticism around the question that was asked and whether it was the right question. It is important that we frame it in the right way.

Also, it is of critical importance to look at what issues we talk about. Deputy Mac Lochlainn mentioned earlier about whether it should be strand 1 or strand 2, or all three. We need to start with strand 1. We need to have the conversation with people within Northern Ireland first to get buy-in because once you start bringing in strands 2 and 3, you start losing support from unionism. We owe it to ourselves to have that conversation within Northern Ireland initially and then broaden out, because you need to take people with you. If you want to find your agreed Ireland, we need to start having those conversations with our neighbours first. The legal compulsion is the bit that I would be a bit concerned about, namely what status a citizens' assembly has.