Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I echo the comments the previous speakers have made in welcoming Sir John Major and thanking him for his opening statement and all the information included. I thank him for the interest, time and effort he put into the North of Ireland at that time. I thank him also for his work on what is called the unconventional approach and the openness that was demonstrated in that period.

I believe wholeheartedly in his earlier comments that we must talk, we must be able to listen and we must be able to keep the other side in mind. We could do with a lot more of that kind of language and that kind of narrative today.

I note that in a meeting with Albert Reynolds in 1992, Mr. Major said "both of us should undertake a series of unconventional confidence-building measures". I am really interested in those comments and would like Mr. Major to expand a little on the moment when he realised we had to think outside of the box and we would have to use unconventional approaches. How exactly did Mr. Major work to build confidence with all parties throughout his time in office? That is my first question.