Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

What I am hearing, which is something that I have also been singing from the rooftops, is that it all comes down to planning and preparing. We all know that at any time, the Secretary of State could call a border poll. We do not know what the criteria for that are so we could be in trouble if we are not ready. We do not know what the thinking is around any of that. If the witnesses were to give advice to the Irish Government, what are the three top priorities they would suggest the Government should start working on? How do we get the message out to the public? If we are to look at constitutional change on the island and if we are to have a united or a new Ireland, how do we explain it? People seem to be fearful of it, both North and South. When I talk to people they say it will cost €20 billion, that people will not get their pensions, that the health service will be affected and so on. How do we get the message out that they do not have to be as frightened of it as they think? What three priorities would the witnesses ask the Government to start working on? Am I focusing in too much on that? How do we get the message out to the public that it is not as scary as they think?