Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

From what the witnesses seem to be saying, the key point is the reform of education. Equalising access is the key to getting people with third level qualifications to come back to the North. It is a major and ongoing issue in any event. Regardless of whether there is a united Ireland, there will not be true prosperity in the North unless that is done. That is the first point.

The second point is that I was surprised at the total amount of €20 billion over 20 years that was outlined in the report. That said, because it will be such a transformational change, the political work will have to be done first. Have the witnesses considered that there could be a significant contribution from Europe, a continuing significant contribution from the UK and even a contribution from some other places like America that have always had an intense interest in Ireland? In other words, could that figure of €20 billion be reduced by having a long-term pact in the interests of peace and prosperity on the island? I presume the North would be going back into the European Union, so that could be a game-changer as well. Do the witnesses have a view on that?