Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 16 February 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Ms Liz O'Donnell

Photo of Niall Ó DonnghaileNiall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----in 1998 that it is now, or as biodiversity and all of those kinds of things are now. Does Ms O'Donnell see the Irish Government advocating, given its role, for how we can strengthen and embolden those bodies further?

My second question refers to where I have a wee bit of a disagreement or different view from that of Ms O'Donnell. I look at myself as a young teenager when the agreement was signed and I remember the promise that was given to my generation. Ms O'Donnell is absolutely correct in that the transformation in our society in the North has been absolute, compared to my parents' and grandparents' generations. It is entirely different. I always, very respectfully, caution people when they suggest that arguing for constitutional change is provocative because that argument inherently suggests that the Good Friday Agreement is provocative. Certainly, people will have a different view and that is fair enough. They can argue that view. I agree with Ms O'Donnell in one sense, in that we cannot enter this debate without having done the necessary legwork with regard to engagement and reconciliation. There are many aspects to that. This committee has heard in the past about victims of the conflict and the awful legacy Bill. We have heard about transgenerational discrimination against children and grandchildren of former political prisoners, many of whom are still disadvantaged because of political convictions their parents or grandparents have, with regard to travel, employment and insurance. I hope my question is not too cheeky and I do not mean it to sound so. When does Ms O'Donnell think it will be a good time to advocate for constitutional change?

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