Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is important in the context of an earlier contribution. With the Chairman's indulgence, I will be brief. I do not like the assertion that a citizens' assembly would not be inclusive. I do not believe it has been asserted that an assembly should be put in place at the expense of the shared island unit. I appreciate that Ms O'Donoghue and Mr. Duffy must work to the political direction of the Department they are in, but people are arguing for a citizens' assembly. It is the mandate of the Seanad, for example, that there would be a citizens' assembly. It is also coming from several councils in the North and a lot of civic and community organisations as well. It is not to replace or to take away from any of the very important work that the shared island unit is engaged in. They could inform and complement one another. We have heard consistently from elected representatives that they are not aware of all of the discussions and engagements that the shared island unit is involved in. So it cannot be that inclusive just yet, although I hope it gets to the point where it will be. I would urge a wee bit of reflection on remarks such as that.

On my own point on the issue of the protocol, perhaps Ms O'Donoghue could come back to me separately off the back of this meeting on whether there is a public engagement strategy or plan around what the shared island unit is doing. There is the issue of the protocol but there are also issues such as the EU digital Covid certificate, access to Erasmus and access to other entitlements and services that the Government announced. These are very welcome and important and are appreciated, but nobody knows about them or how to avail of them. Where does that responsibility fall? I believe that the logical vehicle would be through the shared island unit. In campaigning for a passport office, for example, or around the issue of the digital Covid certificate, I have unfortunately become the passport office for the North. We need a dedicated strategy on that. If we are to retain rights and entitlements for people, this is very good and very welcome, but we need to go beyond the public announcements and say how it is going to be done. I appreciate that the unit is engaging with certain businesses in certain sectors and telling them of issues around the protocol, but there needs to be a broader PR exercise and strategy around what are very welcome and very positive steps. Certainly, it is not always my position in my role in the Seanad to commend the Government, but I will encourage these initiatives. I will welcome them and I will advocate for them but neither I nor individual members of the Oireachtas have the capacity to publicise them. An all-of-government approach is needed to convey those welcome steps. I thank the Chairman for his indulgence.