Ms ?rfhlaith Begley:

Lord Alderdice is very welcome. I was not going to pick up on this point but, in the previous conversation and in this committee, we have discussed much about constitutional change in the future and what shape that may take. There has also been a focus on citizens' assemblies. Sinn Féin has been a strong advocate of putting pressure on the Government to establish citizens' assemblies in order that we can have a debate and conversation on future constitutional change. It is far to say that almost 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, there is considerable interaction and discussion to this day about a potential border poll and what shape a new Ireland may take. We only have to look at the recent Ireland's Future event, which more than 5,000 people attended, to have those discussions and debates. Does Lord Alderdice think a citizens' assembly would be good with regard to trying to have that debate and conversation and trying to include those from a unionist background.