Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

What is happening now is the playing of a game of ethical knockout, particularly in view of the fact that, in addition to a lack of recent experience in government, the merits of the parties opposite are insufficient to recommend them to the people.

The idea is that if people cannot achieve total, consistent and coherent recall of all their dealings a dozen or more years ago, then they are not fit for office. I do not buy that and neither do most people. There is no evidence that the Taoiseach was motivated by personal gain. He has been obliged to face a great deal of hearsay evidence, a choice specimen of which was repeated in Dublin Castle earlier today.

An enormous amount of money is being wasted on expensive tribunals——

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