Ms Liz McManus:

You do not look a day older.

I would like to introduce the speakers very briefly and then Mr. Yeates will speak. Padraig Yeates, who may well be known to the committee, joined the republican movement in the 1960s and stayed with the official movement after the split. He was active in the civil rights campaign and the anti-internment movement. He became a journalist and worked for The Irish Times. He also wrote a number of significant books about Irish history, industrial relations and social issues.

The next speaker is Mr. Peter Lavery, from Belfast. His father was killed 50 years ago by the IRA. He worked for a management consultancy called Venture International and has been involved in peace projects and community relations. Beside Peter is Mr. Harry Donaghy, also from Belfast. Harry is a founding member of the Fellowship of Messines Association and has been the association's project manager for 21 years. He is a former combatant himself and a prisoner. He is currently Northern joint chair of the Truth Recovery Process. Mr. John Green runs his own accountancy business. He was chair of the Glasnevin Trust for most of the decade of commemorations. He is the Southern joint chair of the Truth Recovery Process. Finally, we have Mr. Andy Pollack, who may also be well known to the committee. He was the compiler of the Opsahl Commission report and the first director of the Centre for Cross Border Studies, which was set up as a result of the Good Friday Agreement. He has also worked as a journalist.

Padraig Yeates will now make an opening statement.