Ms Noelle O'Connell:

I thank Senator Andrews. I will hand over to Ms Hayes for what I do not get to. As the Senator correctly pointed out, however, in terms of the trajectory in the percentage of people who think the EU is moving in the right direction going from the height of 58% to 47%, I think this is something we need to look at. I would like to see us do this and come back to the Senator after another couple of years to see where it stands on the full gamut of results, as this was a question we only began asking very recently. I do absolutely accept what the Senator said. I would absolutely prefer if the trend were upwards. It is within the 2.2% margin of error but it is a decline. The Senator has certainly eloquently outlined the challenges we are seeing being borne out - and I think Ms Hayes spoke about it as well - regarding the changing nature of the current EU mandate, whether this is the new Parliament, etc., how this is impacting and how the challenges that civil society and other organisations are facing. When we did ask people what they felt the EU's performance was strongest on and the values, unity and co-operation was something that was the highest, both North and South. Interestingly, in the North, defence and protection, at 17%, was the second highest sector where it was felt the EU was moving in the right direction. I suppose it is very nuanced and multifaceted. Ms Hayes may wish to comment on the foreign policy.