The report says that the role of the Dáil and the Seanad is primarily to represent the State and its people, but there is a distinction in our Constitution between "the State" and "the Nation" and if anything it was perhaps widened in the referendum on Articles 2 and 3. In addition to representing the State we could have a role in relation to the Nation, since it is not within our power to overturn the will of the directly elected assembly of the people. In the scenario we have now where it looks as if the Northern institutions are going to break down – I hope it is not for too long – this is one formula to put forward. The ideal thing would be to have a North-South forum, but by definition if the Assembly is not sitting the basis for that forum falls away.