Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank all our contributors. I have two points to make, the first of which is to Professor Maguire and Dr. Liston.

It probably does not fall so much within the context of what we are debating today but it is a pet peeve of mine that I raise in the Seanad all the time. It is to do with sport. Like the witnesses, I believe in the healing power and empowerment of sport within this and every other context. As we know, when it comes to sport, if you cannot see it, you cannot be it and nor can you follow it, support it and enjoy all the societal and communal benefits. I am always advocating that the Government should do things in advance. It does not need a conversation or a border poll to do certain things. In the witnesses' view, how important is it that sporting bodies, particularly those that are all-Ireland in nature, such as the GAA, athletics, boxing and the Olympic Federation of Ireland, make their matches, games and events viewable and accessible for audiences across the Thirty-two Counties? I find very few things stimulate discourse on social media more than the dreaded announcement on the television, "This event is not available in your region." It annoys people far more even than the question of where they stand on a border poll.

My next question is to Mr. Carlile. We often hear that even the suggestion of a citizens' assembly would be divisive. We are told people will not take part and there is no point in doing it. Does he think last Saturday's event can act as a model for such engagement and as proof people who do not traditionally come from what is perceived as a pro-unity position will come into a dialogue? It is that idea of if you build it, they will come. Does he think the engagement that took place last weekend is a good example and one the Government should follow for the future?