Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

The ruinous situation in Zimbabwe is very sad but, unfortunately, the root cause of the problem was the failure of the British Government at the time of independence to establish and fund a land commission.

The State must be more than a legal entity. I find it very difficult to stand over or defend in any way threatening legal action against people who suffered child abuse to deter them from taking legal action. I agree with the point and have held this view for a very long time having worked with Government. The State has duties towards its citizens. It must act with moral authority and take a larger view than narrow legal advice designed to protect the financial self-interest of the Exchequer and, perhaps, of taxpayers.

I find it very difficult to accept that the State, which has been responsible — or co-responsible if one wishes to be strictly accurate — for so much of the progress which has taken place over 40 years, has nothing whatever to do with some of the negative things that have occurred. I speak as a member of a board of management and I am not looking for indemnification. If one takes on responsibilities in regard to voluntary boards of various kinds, unfortunately one takes on certain risks.

As everybody in the House knows, I am no Irish scholar but I deeply regret the decision of UCD to cease teaching and researching old and middle Irish.