Ms Anna Mercer:

I will briefly mention delivery. Senator Blaney is entirely right about being practical about this. I think Deputy Conway-Walsh and Ms Gildernew alluded to the fact that 23 years later things have not been delivered, so there is a real need to start bringing things forward.

As for institutional reform, the model is there. We have a commitment to a citizens' assembly in New Decade, New Approach. It is a matter of holding people to account and delivering that. There are citizens' assembly models across the UK now, as well as in Ireland. There has been one on Scotland's future and one on climate recovery across the UK, so the model is there and it is a matter of holding our politicians to account in delivering this.

As for embedding the policy, we have an outcomes-based programme for government. It is just about getting the legislation to support well-being within that. There are people lobbying for that at the minute. These things are doable and practical. As responsible organisations, we need not to stand on the fringes criticising what politicians are doing but to give them practical tools and to tell them, "If you do this, it may help make your job easier." Change is nothing to fear. That might not be a statement that has characterised the past 23 years, but we need to make the case for these changes in helping the political process. No one should fear being more effective at governance. It is not just about supporting politicians; it is about layering not just the politics but also governance for them to do the best job they can. If we have not created the optimal conditions for people to deliver legislation, to deliver on policy and to deliver on outcomes for people's lives, we cannot be surprised when things fall apart every few years. There are practical things we can do in that regard; I have alluded to them in my presentation. It is about having those conversations and taking them forward. None of the things I have suggested have been completely pooh-poohed by any party, so it is about having the will to take them forward. The role of this committee is really important in doing that because it is charged with the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, so perhaps the members are the people to start putting these recommendations to the Assembly and delivering a paper in that way, while getting the British and Irish Governments involved as well. There is a bit of a perception that they come in at a crisis point and then leave the stage. How do you get the British and Irish Governments to come in when things are not too bad and to facilitate conversations, using the mechanisms that are already there, to discuss how Northern Ireland can optimise its operations in a political sense?