Mr. Pat Hynes:

There are a number of conversations going on down here about what a new Ireland would look like. Conversations are probably taking place to look at the potential in the wake of Brexit and what has happened in the past number of years. I do not know to what extent all of those conversations are connected to conversations in unionism or loyalism. There are examples such as Ireland's Future. That organisation is beginning to think into the future about what ideas and opportunities might emerge. The point we stress and reiterate is that while those conversations take place, Dr. Farry's point is well taken, in that we will have a million people on the island who espouse and hold a British identity. I will go back to where I started with this; the challenge is in how we reach a balanced accommodation, whatever that might look like, in the context of a future shape on the island which gives expression, understanding and sensitivity to that identity. We do not need to arrive at that answer today. The first order of business is to have the conversation on what that million-strong community would want.

The last word on this is contained in the agreement, that is, the acceptance of the principle that it is okay to be British, Irish or both. For my generation down here, coming through the period of the agreement, we had to and will have to continue to live with fuzzy edges at the extremity of our aspiration around identity. To seek something more pure than the other is not an option. One must try to find the balance of these two perspectives, on the basis that we have two sets of competing allegiances and identities in this space. The conversations will be long, but it is better to take the time, have those conversations and build the relationships, rather than arrive at an outcome that is ill-conceived or not fully thought-out by way of engagement.

With regard to the peace and prosperity agenda, all I can do is pay tribute to IBEC, with which we have been engaging. IBEC has done extraordinary work in demonstrating the reality of what the Irish economy is today with regard to the opportunities that would and could exist for Northern Ireland businesses and services, far beyond where we are at present, in terms of the agrifood sector. The development of that industry is a considerable cross-Border operation.

There are many other opportunities which IBEC and others are identifying and which, in our view, would provide economic prosperity and opportunities for communities, as I said earlier, that have not seen very many of the benefits of the peace process. IBEC made a point some months ago on the corporation tax take here in Ireland where such a large proportion of that tax take is denominated in companies with intellectual property, financial services, patents and licensing, and the fact that no boxes or containers cross borders in the earning of those revenues. That is what a 21st-century economy looks like with. Those in Northern Ireland should therefore be encouraged to look at developing an economy and to develop skills in the education sector there to create a level of human capital which will attract that type of investment, and so on, and provide real opportunities for younger people who are growing up in Northern Ireland.

Those kinds of conversations need to continue and, where we can, we should encourage those conversations. We will continue to do so.