Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will start with less of a question and more of a comment. To follow on Vice Chairman’s final question, much engagement and overlap with the shared island unit would be something very beneficial and we should look at the potential that it offers in great detail. Certainly, from a Dublin point of view, it is something that should be pushed through.

I have slightly more specific questions. Obviously, the draft programme was approved at the North South Ministerial Council, NSMC, in October, but subsequent to that, there has been a boycott of such meetings by a certain unionist party. Can the Minister comment on what impact that is having, or could potentially have, on the work plan being agreed, finalised and, most important, rolled out?

On a more thematic aspect to the work, these are all very important and we have to stress that much good work has been done by the previous iterations of this body and programmes. It is the nature of reconciliation and peacebuilding and the evolution thereof, coming out of the post-Troubles era into the more difficult political scenario that, let us be frank, we are facing at the moment. It is not necessarily focused on legacy issues to do with the Troubles, but very current political issues; the impact of Brexit providing another divisive wedge and the lack of implementation at executive levels of certain policies. Can the Minister comment on how the programme and plans are being modernised and are reflective of the contemporary needs, as well as what has worked previously? Where is the potential to grow the impact of the various programmes?