Professor Jonathan Tonge:

I can come back on that. I see the inherent difficulties of necessarily getting unionists to engage if you have a citizens' assembly on the constitution but it is not impossible. There is that ongoing debate within unionism. The former leader of the DUP, Mr. Peter Robinson, for example, is arguing that unionists should engage in constitutional debate. There is not a uniform position within unionism.

It might not be the starting point. I would not necessarily recommend the first citizens' assembly to be on the constitution, but there is an argument for a citizens' assembly on the constitution, not least to work out the structures. Unionists would still be unionists. They would still vote for the union in a border poll but you could have a legitimate debate within a citizens' assembly as to the structures to try to form what a united Ireland would look like if there was a vote in favour of a border poll. For example, what would be the role of Stormont? How much power would be devolved to the North in the event of Irish unity? That would be one area to consider.

As a starting point, I would echo Ms Mercer's point. One should build up gently. The first citizens' assembly topic might have to be something rather more routine, whether it be integrated education provision or something like that. I cannot think off the top of my head of a precise topic to be worked out but I would lead in gently with it to build up confidence in the idea that citizens' assemblies can and do work.