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

I have listened to everything that has been said. There is clear conflict surrounding the resolution of the problems. They are not being resolved. The witnesses are on the ground, they see it, they know it and they speak about it here and they know what they are talking about.

I hear what is being said and our job as a committee if we can, as I know time is short for the Government, is to collectively write to make the point about funding, which is key from has been said. Surely the shared island unit funding and other funding should be available but that is clearly not given in the way it is wanted. I do not criticise anybody but it would be good if that could be summarised for us.

Mr. Holloway outlined a number of very important points. Perhaps the witnesses could summarise the actions we could take to follow up with Ministers and political parties. I do not know whether this would be helpful but they could get an outcome from what they have said today. We are more than happy to do that and nobody will disagree with that.

The witnesses probably feel they are a voice in the wilderness because, clearly, the political system does not reflect their views. Politics only works when it reflects the people. If does not, there is an unhappy society with serious onward problems that will never be resolved. I ask the witnesses to contact the secretariat with three or four key points they would like us to work on. The committee will meet next week. In the meantime if the witnesses could get correspondence to us with their proposals, we can circulate them to members. This is to be practical about getting a resolution or just to put pressure on people. The starkness of life the witnesses have outlined is not unique to the North. It is especially acute in some communities. These issues are also in my community.