Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. Mr. Moore said earlier that his notes are covered in arrows. He would want to see the state of mine. They are equally as bad if not worse. I thank Mr. Pollak for his contribution. I firmly believe in Irish unification and I will advocate for it. This does not dismiss the obligation on me to listen and engage and to inform debate. I have heard nonsense about people refusing to adapt to a British culture. The question I would have asked the girl at that dinner is whether she watches Coronation Street or whether she follows an English soccer team. It is ráimeís as we say as Gaeilge. It is rubbish and I do not believe in it.

The Good Friday Agreement has to prevail. It has to continue. We have to ensure its provisions and aspirations in terms of parity of esteem, which by the way have yet to be realised, are realised beyond a constitutional change. Mr. Moore is right. At the end of the day it will come down to people's meat and drink and the roof over their heads as opposed to symbolism, as important as it is. We, as people who do advocate change, have to make the case that everything is on the table, whether it is symbolism or allegiance to the royal family. Hopefully we are seeing this change but at the minute in the North there is no official recognition for the Irish language. Under a penal law it is still illegal to speak Irish in court in the North. Our flag is not given parity of esteem. I know what the fears are because I am living them in many ways. People have lived it. I want to make sure that in any constitutional change we have discussions to tell the unionist community that their symbols, expressions of cultures and affinity will be given the space and respect they deserve.

I thank the Chair for his indulgence. There is a lot I want to say and in the spirit of dialogue I ask him not to be hitting the bell. I have a couple of points.