Seanad report: Dr Martin Mansergh (FF) was applauded by fellow senators on the Government benches after he had explained why he had been involved in secret talks with individuals connected with violent activity in Northern Ireland.
"Everything that Father Alex Reid or myself and others did from the months following the Enniskillen bomb to the months following the Omagh bomb were with one purpose, and one purpose only - to establish a lasting peace in Ireland that would be an alternative to violent conflict and to the type of atrocities of which I have spoken."
Referring to last Tuesday's Dáil disclosure by the Taoiseach, Mr David Norris (Ind) said what was of concern to him was the fact that there had been meetings with the so-called "Real IRA" before and after the Omagh bombing.
The Taoiseach, with reference to this had said "something that was quite deliberately untrue in the other House. That erodes confidence and that's a very dangerous thing to do," he added.
Mr John Hanafin (FF) said he would expect that the Government would have different feelers going out to different organisations at various times.
Mr Norris: "They shouldn't lie about it in Parliament. That's the point."
Dr Maurice Hayes (Ind) said there could be no question in anybody's mind about the contribution that Dr Mansergh had made over the years.
"I think the peace process would not have been what it was were it not for him and indeed for Alex Reid," he said.