Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My apologies; I had to step out of the meeting briefly so I did not catch all of the contributions. My questions are for any of the witnesses to answer. There was reference to the mechanics of some of this stuff and how people envisage that. In terms of issues of identity, respect and creating space, what is not a parallel process but can almost be done in parallel is the issue of the Irish Government going further than just making a passport available to people, which is important. There is great symbolism with a passport and I do not diminish it at all but it is possible to go further. Those present may be aware that I have campaigned for a referendum on extending voting rights in presidential elections. Not every unionist, and probably not every nationalist and republican, would take up that opportunity, but I have spoken to a former member of the British parachute regiment who is from Belfast and was involved in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement with the Ulster Unionist Party. He said he would love to have the opportunity to cast a vote for the President because he very much saw that office as being representative of him.

In the previous Seanad, Senator McDowell chaired a subgroup on Seanad reform that set out a number of proposals. The Cathaoirleach need not worry - I am not taking us off track. It produced a range of proposals, including the extension of the franchise in Seanad elections universally, to every citizen. As all present are aware, the Seanad electorate is currently quite small. The universal extension of that franchise would mean that, from Kerry to Derry, everyone would have the opportunity to elect candidates to the House. That would strengthen and enrich the opportunities. I have seen up close the benefits of having unionist voices in this Chamber.

Are there things the Irish Government can do unilaterally, in parallel with the issues we have discussed this morning? The word "unilaterally" is sometimes taken as being nearly like a scary or bad word but I think it would be positive unilateralism if the Irish Government were to take these initiatives and show, in a respectful and courteous way, everyone in the North - nationalist, unionist or neither - that they could have a stake. There was reference to Articles 2 and 3. Yesterday at a meeting of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement I made the point that some people think Articles 2 and 3 were deleted from the Constitution in the context of the Good Friday Agreement but they were replaced with a commitment that people born on the island have a right to be part of the Irish nation. I am keen to hear the thoughts of our guests on how the Irish Government can and should give effect to that, which is on the table now, alongside working towards constitutional change and redrawing the Constitution in a way that is respectful to everyone.