Ms Claire Hanna:

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Dr. Claire Mitchell if we are all doing our cúpla focal. I thank Dr. Mitchell for her presentation and congratulate her on the book. It is really substantial and also a real pleasure to read. I found it a very uplifting book and it is notable that a lot of people are tapping into the new conversation about identities and the multitudes we are now allowed to have in Northern Ireland. People are also looking at the shifting constitutional conversation. Dr. Mitchell managed to do both in a really important way.

She noted in the book and in her presentation that they are not necessarily the same thing. There are people who are not identifying as Protestant, unionist and loyalist but from a Protestant background who are not yet new Irelanders or maybe will not become new Irelanders. It is an important distinction and it is also important that we do not immediately claim people who start to explore different parts of their identity and allow people space to do that.

Has Dr. Mitchell any thoughts on how best to engage people who are open to some form of a decent, pragmatic offer on constitutional change but who maybe do not want to be banked in any particular corner? Specifically, she mentioned the role of women in constitutional change. How does that differ from the mainstream discourse and our political parties? Are all those active in this space doing enough to engage and support women in this area?