Lord McFall of Alcluith:

I thank Senators for their warm and wise words, which I will take back with me. They are very important. Mention was made of my stewardship of the Scotch Whisky All-Party Parliamentary Group. I was a little bit disappointed this morning when I was offered coffee or tea just before I got into the Taoiseach's office. I do not drink so Members need not worry about that.

I understand the political issues and they will be articulated in Westminster next week. The road ahead could be long and difficult but if we do not stay together on it then we will fail. The resolution is that we stay together. That element is very important. What has been mentioned about taking time to listen, whether it was to the Taoiseach's remarks earlier in Oxford or to Steve Baker, is that we do not understand each other. That is a feature. We have got to understand each other. We can only do that by face-to-face engagement. As far as I am concerned, that is the message from today.

Mention was made about muscular unionism. I have lived in Scotland all my life, 70 odd years, so I am as Scottish as anybody. If I am cut, the blood is Scottish. In regard to Scotland and the engagement referendum, if people have got to be convinced then they have to own an issue.They must have pride in that issue. It is not a matter of restoring trust. It cannot be restored. Trust must be given; it cannot be restored. If people are going to be convinced, there is a sense of ownership. At the conference last Saturday, James Nesbitt of "Bloodlands" fame, mentioned that point from his unionist perspective. That respect is integral.

I mentioned that politics is difficult. We can have successes and failures. I spent the vast part of my life in teaching, as I mentioned. In the 1970s, I was a deputy headmaster in charge of pastoral care for pupils. I was involved in engagement and headed a truancy unit to get young kids into school. The social dimension was important, and that has lived with me. When I was an MP, I was invited to Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow during Christian Aid Week by one of the sisters who worked there. We had a good reception for the prisoners. On the way out, I saw a van coming in. Out of the van came a young fellow, handcuffed between two policeman. As I passed, I heard, "Hello, Mr. McFall". I turned around and said, "Hello, how are you?" He said to me, "How am I?" It was obvious how we was. With a bit of pride, he lifted himself up, looked over and said, "See Mr. McFall? He used to be my guidance teacher." There I was in charge of pastoral care and this young guy ends up in prison. What does that tell me? It tells me that failure is never fatal. It tells me that success is never final. Walk along the road with each other. I can only leave Senators with the inscription on Seamus Heaney's headstone, which reads, "Walk on air against your better judgment". Let us walk together with that spirit in mind.