"I regard it as entirely beneficial that foreign artists and writers settle in Ireland, while our own are encouraged to stay. Ireland benefits by being reflected in some of their work. I see no sense in changing the laws that have been very successful since being introduced by Charles Haughey as Minister for Finance in 1969."

Senator Martin Mansergh
Clonmel, Tippery, 2004

(Excerpt from a speech at South Tipperary Arts Center, Clonmel, Tipperary, 25. November 2004)

Senior adviser to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and architect of the "Good Friday Agreement'

was born in England in 1946, the son of the County Tipperary-born historian Nicholas Mansergh. Martin Mansergh was educated in England at The King's School, Canterbury and Christ Church, Oxford. Mansergh studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics in Oxford, and obtained a Doctorate in French history. He entered the Department of Foreign Affairs by open civil service competition in 1974, and was promoted to the position of First Secretary in 1977. Later recruited by Taoiseach Charles J Haughey, he has worked for the Fianna Fail party ever since, serving under three Fianna Fail leaders as Director of Research, Policy and Special Advisor on Northern Ireland where he was involved in discussions between the nationalist parties and the Irish Government and met regularly with intermediary Father Alec Reid.

Mansergh was a key member of the teams which formed the Fianna Fáil-Labour coalition in 1992 and the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition in 1997. As a senior adviser to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Mansergh has played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace process over the last twenty years. He is also a member of the Irish Council of State, having been appointed by the President Mary McAleese.

He is the author of 'The Legacy of History', a collection of his speeches and essays, published by Mercier Press. Until recently he wrote a weekly column for the Irish Times, giving it up to concentrate on his Tipperary constituency.

The Belfast Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement

(/ˈtiːʃɒx/ or /ˈtiːʃɒ/) — plural: Taoisigh (/ˈtiːʃiː/ or /ˈtiːʃɪg/). An Taoiseach, is the head of government of Ireland or prime minister. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann (the lower house of parliament).

The Taoiseach, wikipedia.org

Seanad Éireann (IPA: [ɕan̪ˠad̪ˠ e:rʲan̪ˠ]; English: Senate of Ireland), also known unofficially as the Senate, is the upper house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. Unlike the lower house, Dáil Éireann, the Senate is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by various methods. The powers of Seanad Éireann are modelled loosely on those of the British House of Lords.