Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I do not intend to follow the road of that type of grossly politically partisan contribution.

Up to 20 years ago conventional political wisdom had it that the two groups in the South we should never publicly criticise, even where some criticism might by justified, was the Garda Síochána and the church. Today, there are no institutions beyond criticism, scrutiny and accountability and it is healthy that this is so.

When I was a senior adviser, I became aware, albeit second-hand, of serious problems among the Garda in Donegal through proximity to the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy John O'Donoghue, and his senior officials with whom I was in close contact during various stages of the peace process. Unlike the previous speaker, I regard it as greatly to the credit of this State and to then Minister, Deputy John O'Donoghue, that we resisted the temptation to brush matters under the carpet.

See this speech in context