Conor Murphy (Sinn Fein)
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Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an gCathaoirleach. I am looking forward to working with everybody here on the work that the committee has outlined. Technically, I am a returning member because I was a Member of Parliament and served on the committee many years ago. A number of important areas of ongoing work have been outlined which we look forward to getting our teeth into.

This past number of years has been a time of profound change not just in the North but across the islands. The Good Friday Agreement is a living document. It is a document that accommodates and provides for change. It was never a full stop with respect to the development of where Ireland is going. The committee can play a useful role in recognising that and helping to facilitate discussions on what change should like and providing a space.

I agree very much with previous commentators about trying to encourage unionist voices here. It is always difficult on the more political side of things but there are many unionists north of the Border engaged in conversations about political change and what it means for all of the people who share this island. In the absence of an officially created safe space, I think this committee can provide that function and I hope it does.

With regard to whatever programmes of work we map out for ourselves, we should be conscious that that change is profound and it is increasing. The straws in the wind are now becoming straws in a gale force with regard to what that looks like, and we have work to do in that regard. We have a facility and a space here where we can bring people together to assist in mapping that out, and fulfil the potential of the Good Friday Agreement, which was about accommodating change and difference but also ensuring that people could continue on political journeys from 1998 right through to the present day, and wherever we go from here.