Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is really refreshing and helpful to have independent experts here today in an advisory role. They are not here to fight anyone's corner but to give an expert viewpoint in the spirit of Professor Whitaker's legacy. I would like to ask Dr. Lawless whether it is fair to say that Brexit has brought us closer together because our economic ties are getting closer. Is the trend likely to continue in that direction? Is the inter-reliance likely to become greater and greater? As many who commented at the time said, an unintended consequence of Brexit for some who are pro-Brexit might be that the economies would be driven closer together. My second question is on alignment. If we had alignment North and South - for example, in the health systems - it would be easier for a unification. However, it is not stroke of the pen alignment. We have proposed extending free GP cover in the South but the GP system is broken. Do we measure how effective it is in the economic strategies and analysis? It is okay in theory but would this closer alignment work in practice?

Liz Truss said recently that change brings disruption. Is it possible that if this is done right, there will be very little disruption or is it the case that no matter how well one prepares, there will be some economic disruption in a united Ireland? I am looking forward to hearing Professor Locke who will comment on the German unification experience.

Would it be fair to say from the statistics that the Northern Ireland jurisdiction is under-performing economically? I would not go as far as saying what Charles Haughey once said, namely, that it was a failed political entity, but are the Six Counties strongly under-performing? What is the expert independent view on the performance of that economy in overall terms?