Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

A matter which we do not debate in this House and which we should is the annual commemoration programme part funded by the Department of the Taoiseach. I had the pleasure of being in Letterkenny last week for the launch of fine stamps depicting the flight of the earls. It is very sad that there is no tablet to mark from where the earls embarked on their ship to the Continent in 1607. I gather responsibility for this may be our old friend private property. We may have forgotten the issue about private property being subject to the common good in the Constitution. I have some sympathy with Senator McHugh being blocked on Station Road and that there is, alas, no station in Letterkenny.

It is the centenary of the death of the famous patriot, John O'Leary, who was born in Tipperary town. I am glad to say that, contrary to the opinion of a former Senator of the Irish Free State, romantic Ireland is alive and well.