Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The addresses from the witnesses were very powerful. I thank them for the hard work they have been doing in reaching out to people in their communities. I have been very impressed in particular by what the witnesses collectively say about the need for consent and representation - gender and otherwise. If we are to build a new Ireland, the issue that goes to the heart of the matter is that - whatever altar they pray on or whatever God they support - everybody must agree to it. For that reason, consent is hugely important. If we have a future poll, it must be fully and thoroughly thought out. Everybody must have a place, regardless of their religion, sex or background. This is everybody's island and we cannot have a victory for one side and a defeat for the other. That cannot be; it must be consensual. That is key.

What this committee is about is shaping and changing opinions, and informing ourselves. We are very near to our last meeting. It will not be too long before some of the faces the witnesses see in this House will be on telephone poles around the country. What is more important is that we talk about the new relationship that we must have. The deepest part of that is that it is not just a majority vote, even though, technically, one vote would do it, but one vote on one side or the other will not do it. We must get significant buy-in. That is the work we must do. That is my own personal opinion, and the more I meet people and the more I think about it, the more I am convinced that it is the way forward.

The witnesses spoke about the past and the Troubles. I have been reading about history. In 1792 in Armagh a Protestant family was attacked by a group of Defenders. He was a teacher, and he and his wife were appallingly mutilated. It shows the terrible stress and tension there was in Ireland then. We have seen the same in my lifetime. The witnesses referred to people who have been murdered and buried in unmarked graves, which is unacceptable. We cannot forget that but we must put it behind us and learn from it. Whether they happened 200 years ago or 20 years ago, we must ensure that these things never happen again. We must keep working on it.

The rotation is Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, Independents, Alliance and SDLP. I will take Fianna Fáil first if that is okay.