Mr. Niall Murphy:

I will address Mr. Maskey's question. I compliment Reverend Karen on what she said. It was an exceptional introductory address and wholly summarises the philosophy of Ireland's Future. We are so delighted and proud that the Reverend Karen is now an ambassador for our message. It was a real privilege to be on this call to listen and hear what she had to say because it really sums up exactly how we want to conduct this conversation. There is a huge responsibility upon all of us, on politicians and anybody who is engaged in this discourse in civic space, to be as open, reflective and respectful as possible. That is precisely how we want to manage our affairs.

On Mr. Maskey's inquiry on what an Oireachtas joint committee might look like, we respectfully consider that should be complementary to our citizen-led approach in which we are just a participant. We are not defining the conversation and do not seek to. All we want is to provide a platform and contribute to public discourse.

We want that to be done in a spirit of mutual experience, reflective of everybody. I consider it as a bowl of stew in which everybody is a different ingredient. Everybody brings to the conversation that which they have experienced, personally and as a community, and does so with respect and confidence. If there were to be an Oireachtas joint committee in that sprit, the ambition might be for us to get to the position to which Scotland got in 2013. Our overriding overture is that there must be detail, evidence-led and empirically robust positions that everybody and read, comprehend, understand and contribute to. As I mentioned in my remarks two weeks ago, the Scottish Government was in a position to publish a 670-page analysis outlining its vision of how Scotland would transition to independence in the event of a positive referendum. Of course, that did not happen. There is no preconceived outcome to all of this but our position is that detailed preparation should be undertaken to inform the conversation. That is where I think an Oireachtas joint committee can outline, drive, procure evidence, monitor, engage and review how a transition in respect of constitutional change might occur. That might also be complemented by the appointment of a Minister of State with dedicated and specific responsibility to develop strategies to advance constitutional change while co-ordinating with all of the Government's other all-Ireland policies.

The work that has been commenced by the shared island unit was rightly brought to my attention and that of the committee two weeks ago. I compliment that positive step. The finance which has been regenerated and made more specific has infused more energy into what are wholly and fundamentally positive engagements. Reconnecting the synapses of our island is crucial to everybody's best endeavours in this regard. Our respectful analysis is that more needs to be done. As I said, there is a responsibility on all of us to conduct our affairs as transparently and openly as possible. The best mechanism for that is, of course, through the convention of a committee such as the one we are attending today.