Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have agreed our rotation of speakers as we continue our meetings with architects of the Good Friday Agreement project. We will continue to meet a range of people involved in the negotiations, both politicians and officials. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Lord John Alderdice to the meeting and thank him for attending. Lord Alderdice played a significant role in all of the talks between the political parties and the British and Irish Governments in the run-up to the Good Friday Agreement. He was leader of the Alliance Party from 1987 to 1998, the first Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 1998 to 2004 and continues to be very much involved in peace and reconciliation work. Lord Alderdice is very welcome.