Ms Aingeal O?Donoghue:

I thank the Deputy. Yes, we have been encouraged by the extent of engagement across all communities. This committee and these hearings have been hugely helpful with regard to building up a knowledge of the shared island initiative, what it is, and frankly, getting the word out there about it, and having people thinking and talking about it.

It is the case that at a political level, the unionist political parties have not engaged with us or the Taoiseach. There have been some quiet conversations in the political context. However, we have not had engagement from unionist political parties. Equally though, they have not chosen to criticise the initiative, and that in itself is not insignificant. It is certainly the case that unionist communities and activists have engaged with the initiative, in terms of both the dialogues and funding. Local authorities would be a very good example that.