Mary McAleese reckons there is a significant shift in the way that violence is perceived in the post ceasefire era.

"...she said she was more hopeful about the North situation today than she has been at any other time in her life. The current focus on sectarian violence and intolerance would not have happened during the Troubles when, every day, people were "absorbed with issues of death", she said"

But as the first comments on yesterday's survey of attitudes come in, others are more downbeat in their analysis.