Brendan Ryan (Labour)

Brehon law is referred to in one of the statutes being given a stay of execution. Are we effectively saying that there was no rule of law before 1169, the year of invasion?

Interesting themes can be identified in the evolution of legislation. One is the gradual progression of the abolition of slavery in which the British Parliament was the most enlightened in the world at the time. One of the great advocates for the abolition of slavery was the Liberator, Daniel O'Connell. He refused to visit the United States during his political career because of the existence of slavery there. When he met political visitors from a state in the US where slavery was retained, he refused to shake hands with them. I did not appreciate until recently the extraordinary consistency of his liberal beliefs. It was not just about Ireland. He had extraordinarily enlightened views on slavery and colonialism. I accept he was not very enlightened about the rights of working people.