James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have two questions. I listened with great interest to the witness talking through Article 3. I always keep a copy of the blue book on my desk. I had a quick flick through it as Mr. Durkan was talking through it. It was interesting to hear his explanation of the thought process behind the text that was chosen, what went into that and how he saw it manifesting in due course. One thing that caught my eye when I went to look at it again was that Article 3.2 refers to what we sometimes discuss as "the North-South institutions" or the executive bodies that have cross-Border reach. That is the constitutional framework for those to give effect to their powers. I will put two questions to Mr. Durkan and then he can come back with the others. Does he think we have realised the potential of those institutions? I know there are some, which tend to be in less contentious areas, such as Waterways Ireland and on the amenities, leisure and tourism side. Can we go a lot further with that? Are there other things we could and should be doing, or attempting to do or supporting, on this committee and elsewhere? What sort of vision did Mr. Durkan have in mind at that time? Casting his mind back, how can we realise the potential of that further?

The second question is slightly different. I also asked other witnesses during this series of engagements with architects of the Agreement. We have seen a lot of discussion in recent times that, following the Assembly elections, when members are elected and take up their seats, they are asked to designate. I think it is a simple nationalist-unionist designation, but there is an increasing number of "other" members being elected and identifying as that. Is it time to move on from a simplistic orange or green choice and look at a rainbow or different strands and move slightly away from that sort of demarcation? Is it hindering things at this stage, even though it was important at the outset?