Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will come back. There is no problem. Deputy Smith has left but he is asking a question in the Dáil and will come back.

The summary we have been given is very important. I will build on Deputy Conway-Walsh's questions regarding the idea of a model for all of this. I do not think there would be any problem with it in the South because there is significant concern that this happens appropriately and properly, and that people in the North accept and want it. It would not be an issue here to have a commission but Northern Ireland is a different jurisdiction, where there are stronger political views and opposing sides. I like what the witnesses said. I do not think there would be any problem here. It would be very constructive engagement and would also help inform the debate, a lot of which is taking place. Different parties have different views on this, but we have to get buy-in from everybody and look at all aspects of it.

I agree with the comments about human rights, socioeconomic issues and equality. These are key, not just for women but for everybody. They apply universally, as referenced in the last point made on other marginalised groups. I ask for more detail on the Uganda model, and any other model, so we can unpack the nuts and bolts, for want of a better term, of how they did it, and how we could address the question in the North. There is obviously opposition to a poll, which, at present, will only happen when the Secretary of State sees it as an alternative.

However, it will still be divisive. It is important to take the division out and debate the issue, as Professor Ashe proposes, right down to every single level in society. Professor Ashe may be able to comment on that.