Mr. Zac Taylor-Clarke:

I thank Senators. Senator Black was talking about integrated education and put a question to me. I come from a different perspective. I think I speak for a few people in Northern Ireland when I say we have grown up with a divided system in terms of selective education with the AQE and the GL. There are three or four different avenues to go to school after primary school. There are controlled schools, Irish schools, private schools and integrated education, etc. I want one education system because that is the only way people can be unified on the basis of their beliefs, values and morals. A divided system does none of that.

As I said in my opening statement, I was 16 years old only two years ago. I met people at the North Ireland Youth Forum who changed my life and perspective. They allowed me to become more knowledgeable about their experiences in Catholic-maintained and Irish schools. Their experiences were completely different from mine. That allowed me to reconcile the differences in my upbringing in east Belfast with that community.

Senator Currie mentioned the process of reconciliation. I strongly agree with her assessment on empathy. That is extremely important. We are now seeing more division in Northern Ireland today than we saw more than 20 years ago. It baffles me. It is good that young people are coming to speak to the committee. I know there are similar things going on in Westminster and if the Assembly was up and running, I hope similar things would be happening there too. I reiterate that reconciliation has become a sound bite used by a lot of people over the past ten to 20 years. The process has not even started for many people. It takes the time from birth to the age I am now to develop one's points. I identify as British and unionist but I have no problem coming to speak to people who differ from me. I disagree with Mr. Quigley, for example, but I respect his views. That is not something you would hear from my community, the members of which take the attitude of repeating "Never". The only way the process of reconciliation can happen is if all of us are in the same place at the one time to understand one another.