Mr. Mickey Brady:

I thank Lord Empey for the presentation. Following on from Deputy Tully's question about a border poll, Lord Empey mentioned joining two pieces of land. In the context of reunification, that is a very simplistic view, with respect. He also talked about the meeting with David Cameron in February 2016, prior to the Brexit poll. It seems very clear from what he is saying that there was little or no preparation done for that. It seems from speaking to people afterwards that they really did not know what they were voting for. Thankfully, in the North people voted to remain and that created a democratic deficit because we were all lumped into the British context. Lord Empey talked about a border poll being destabilising so soon after the Brexit poll. However, I think preparation has to be done and that has to include everybody. I deal with and speak to a lot of people from a unionist persuasion almost daily in my constituency office. It seems to me that sometimes civic unionism is ahead of political unionism. I am not sure if Lord Empey would agree or disagree with that.

Reading his comments around the petition of concern, I think Lord Empey accepts that it can be a useful device if used properly but that it has been abused. The whole idea of the petition of concern is to protect minorities and that simply has not happened in many cases. Does he think the petition of concern can be reviewed and dealt with to be more effective in protecting minorities, as it was originally meant to do? I thank him again for his presentation.