Ms Órfhlaith Begley:

I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee and for the update. It is great to have this continual, regular engagement. It is good to get an update on the shared island dialogue series and to see the impact that it is having on the ongoing discussions. Since the last time we met, there have been many discussions in our committee about a citizens' assembly. Even in my county, Tyrone, a group of Gaels have written to the Taoiseach, urging him to take the initiative to set up a citizens' assembly on the back of the ongoing conversation about Irish reunification. There is an onus on the Irish Government to step up to the mark and to ensure that responsible planning is in place should there be a referendum in the future. It would be good to get an update from the witnesses about the possibility of a citizens' assembly in the future. Perhaps it would address some of the same issues that are being discussed in the ongoing dialogue series from the shared island unit.

The A5 was mentioned earlier by Senator Currie. It is in the NDP. It is noted as a priority by the Irish Government. Not to sound like a broken record, but only €75 million is committed for that project. The witnesses said that there was nothing else that the Irish Government can do. I am of the view that the Irish Government can increase its contribution to the A5 in line with the original commitment to co-fund the A5. It would be good to get the witnesses' thoughts on that.

COP26 is on this week. There are many conversations about climate change. If any challenges or opportunities emerge from that, how would they feature in the NDP or the work of the shared island unit?