Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I would prefer to have spoken before Senator Mansergh. As one from the North, I have been watching these processes for a number of years – of course the hurler on the ditch always knows more than the people in the field. There can be no question in anybody's mind of the contribution that Senator Mansergh has made over the years. He is a man of almost frightening integrity. The peace process would not have been what it was were it not for him and Fr. Alex Reid, as he mentioned. I have no difficulty about people speaking with people here and there. If someone is trying to end a conflict there is no point talking to people who are not actually fighting. It is not unreasonable in these rather murky circumstances for a government to have a certain reticence about to whom they are talking. We should not blow this issue up into a mountain.