Baroness O'Loan:

The resolution of legacy issues does not fall within the remit of our committee. Notwithstanding that, unless the legacy issues are resolved, there will not be the necessary economic stability. We heard evidence, if I remember correctly, of a significant number of people who wanted to invest in Northern Ireland but, in some cases, had been deterred by the trouble which broke out over the Easter weekend.

My experience of working across the Border with the Irish Government was on matters of policing and I gave evidence a couple of years ago to another Oireachtas committee on reform of An Garda Síochána. There is recognition across the Border that these are matters we have in common and need to cherish and hold safe. Although legacy does not lie within our terms of reference, it is nevertheless vital we do all we can to give effect to the New Decade, New Approach agreement. That will provide the necessary stability. There are those who reject that agreement so it is profoundly difficult, but I know from previous work that people only gain trust in policing and in the provision of the stability necessary for economic activity when they understand what is going on. One of the difficulties in some of the evidence we have heard is that people do not understand the implications of the Northern Ireland protocol and think it is about things it is not about. We have a big job to do there.