Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

No problem. I wish our guests a good afternoon and thank Mr. Hynes for his opening statement.

I want to refer to a particular matter. Maybe Mr. Hynes could provide clarification in respect of it. He stated, "Since the Good Friday Agreement strikes the fine balance between the aspirations for unity and union through a complex matrix of compromises, simple and unilateral solutions will not work unless we get the agreement of both sections of the community ...". From my point of view, the principle of consent was built into the Good Friday Agreement and allows for a democratic pathway to Irish unity and those advocating and voting for unity in a future referendum would hope that they get as large a vote in its favour as possible. However, the suggestion that unless we get the agreement of both communities it will not work is offering a veto to unionism. I felt the Good Friday Agreement was about removing the vetoes offered to one section of the community. Maybe Mr. Hynes would explain what he means by that.