Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit. Ócáid stairiúil í seo mar tugann sí seans dúinn ár mbuíochas, ár meas agus ár n-omós do laochra na Cásca a theaspáint agus cinntiú nach mbeidh aon dochar déanta do aon rud a bhaineann leo siúd, toisc gur sheas siad an fód in am an ghátair.

We are here as Members of the Oireachtas and we would not be here only for the men and women of 1916 and all the other patriots who endeavoured to secure our independence and sovereignty and ensure we had control of our own destiny. I am particularly pleased that we have present in the Visitors Gallery members of the Moore Street committee and relatives of the leaders of 1916.

This is an historic occasion and I thank the Leader, Senator Cassidy, for acceding to my request to have statements on this subject with the Minister of State present. I felt we were leaving all the hard work to a small group of people who were working, not on their own behalf but on behalf of the reputation of the nation. These are people who come from different walks of life. They started from a particular base, where they had to educate people as to the importance of the Moore Street area. Many would not have been aware of its significance but for that committee. I attended one of their meetings, where there was a capacity crowd. It indicated to me that the committee had developed a momentum that would keep going.

We accept that Nos. 14-17 Moore Street have been designated as a national monument. However, as with all national monuments, the environs also must be taken into consideration. For instance, the Rock of Cashel, where I come from, is a national monument but the environs are also preserved and must be taken into account when there is any development.

Those who will be still alive in 2016 will feel very proud when they look back on the events of 1916. I say this because at the 1916 commemoration that was held recently one could see an outpouring of emotion, gratitude and patriotism. I can look back to 1966, when we saw exactly the same. If, when we reach 2016, we have not done what is right with regard to Moore Street we will have made a serious error. History will not be kind to any of us who stay silent on this issue.

I appreciate what the Minister of State has put before us, which is the status quo. However, it cannot end there. I ask the Minister of State to convey to the appropriate Minister and to the Department of the Taoiseach that a meeting should be held within seven days between the representatives of the Moore Street committee, the appropriate Minister, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, and the Taoiseach. That would give the committee members the opportunity to explain the devastation with which we are now faced in Moore Street. It is clear that the prospective developer is going to appropriate more than 60% of that historic environment. This is not acceptable. It cannot happen. The people do not want it. I have no doubt that if a plebiscite were held it would be clear that the people would want the wishes of the descendants of the 1916 leaders to be respected.

I am overawed by the sense of history that comes from having the relatives here. How nice it was for me to meet the relatives, not just today but on previous occasions. I know that every family of every patriot suffered because of that patriotism. No patriot who sacrificed himself or herself for Ireland did not also see his or her family sacrificed in exactly the same way. We owe it to these descendants, to the committee who have taken it upon themselves to be in the forefront of this campaign, to the nation and, above all else, to our own sense of respect and decency as a sovereign nation to ensure not an inch of ground in the Moore Street environment is in any way desecrated for whatever reason.

I am certain there is cross-party support for this proposal. That is absolutely vital. The 1916 Rising preceded the disastrous civil war, when we split out energies and our focus. We can all celebrate 1916 and commemorate it together. I was glad to hear Senator Donohoe's contribution. I have no doubt that the political will is there to do what is right at the right time in this regard. What we say today will become part of the record of the Oireachtas and will be there for examination and for posterity.

The area should not merely be preserved. It could be developed into a historic attraction, and I do not use the word "attraction" in any derogatory sense. In any part of the world when a self-respecting nation is commemorating its history it spares no effort to ensure it is done properly and authentically. Our history has a connection with the whole world. Other emerging nations from that era took the example of our people, where might did not succeed over right. Right succeeded over the might of the British Empire. So many other countries have the same history in order that when their people come to visit us and celebrate our achievements there is no place more they will want to go than to the historic sites. Even if we think in a mercenary or commercial sense — I do not mean this as the lowest common denominator — what better achievement could we have or what better recognition of what the heroes and heroines did than to give an opportunity to people to visit this site? I am not thinking of merely one small house. If the out-structures have been demolished and the laneways changed we will not be dealing with the environment to which the people of the GPO retreated during Easter Week.

I know the credentials of the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Finneran, and know his heart is in the right place. I know he will take what we are saying in the right way and relay the message back. I ask him to give us that urgent meeting. We must not lose this opportunity. If we do not avail of it we will regret it in years to come.