Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to extend a warm welcome to all of our witnesses. Senator Boyhan talked about how great it is to hear the voice of youth in this Chamber. As the youngest Senator present, I want to say, among all of my distinguished colleagues, how great it is to represent the voice of youth on this side.

I thank the Chair for organising today and ensuring that dialogue happens. As previous speakers said, we have had a very significant week with the launch of the Northern Voices exhibition to highlight minority voices and different voices heard in this Chamber which, for the 100 years that it has existed, has always been the essence of what should happen.

In discussing the constitutional issue and our island, one thing that worries me is at this very moment in time we have an Assembly that is not doing exactly what we are doing – meeting, speaking and exploring the thoughts that the witnesses have done today in such a careful and thought-provoking manner, bringing it to the level that we need for discourse. Mr. McAuley spoke about the need to address basic disability services and transport, which is what people care about. Looking at the census results from the North this week, that is what people care about. I would like to hear the views of the witnesses on the fact that while they are discussing these issues, the adults in Stormont cannot get themselves in the room to hear each others’ voices and discuss issues. Does that worry them? What does that mean for the constitutional issues we are discussing?