Ms Margaret Ritchie:

I thank the Chairman and members of the Oireachtas committee for their very warm welcome and invitation to engage. Like Lord Hain, I agree that formal engagement and informal engagement are needed. I am a member of the British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly's committee on economic affairs, chaired by Deputy Howlin. Some weeks ago, we heard evidence on the economic impact of Brexit on the island of Ireland, both North and South, on the impact of the protocol and the need for political and economic stability. Those are the points that arose continuously. Of vital importance is the informal contact we already have with one another as parliamentarians. It is important that we build on it. I am aware, from living in Ireland and the North, that it is important that we engage with our colleagues in the Oireachtas, be they in the Dáil or Seanad. It is vital that we gain an understanding and communicate the issues. I recall the engagement by my party colleagues in the days of the Anglo-Irish Agreement and during the development of the Good Friday Agreement. The relationship between the then Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, and the then UK Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, was vital. Those relationships were excellent. Relationships in the past couple of years between Britain and Ireland have sadly deteriorated. I would lie that largely at the door of the British Government but we now have to move to circumstances in which those relationships are enhanced. I am glad about the formal relationship provided for under the agreement of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, which is meeting in Dublin tomorrow under the chairmanship of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney. That is vital. Formal and informal engagement is required. The more we can do with the Oireachtas, the better, be it in Belfast, London or Dublin, or even Downpatrick.