Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I know that would be the first thing. I read the then Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan's letter from 5 May 2021 to Matt Doyle, the secretary of the National Graves Association. In some ways, it is very funny. It states that "The Office of Public Works clearly understands that any move to undertake an exhumation and re-interral project certainly cannot be undertaken unilaterally [Nobody asked it to do it unilaterally.] and would have to be considered and approved in the first instance as a policy matter, which is outside our remit." This was from the then Minister of State. How can it be outside a Minister of State's remit? It is within their remit.

I do not know whether he is still in that position as there have been a few changes but that is the reason for the petition. You have a Minister of State saying it is nothing to do with them. When I contacted Kilmainham, it said, no, it is the OPW. The OPW says it is the Minister of State but you have a Minister of State saying it is not them. I think the petitioners in this instance are correct. It has to go to the next level, which is the Taoiseach, or at least get the Minister of State to say why it is this not within their remit. I have had questions back and forth with the Minister of State but they are not very forthcoming in terms of movement.

The rest of the latter basically outlined why it should not happen, but the very same reasons were used in the case of the Forgotten Ten, that they would never get all of the families on board. I remember that being said because I was on the centenary committee. It was said that could not happen and it was excuse after excuse. When a policy decision was taken, all of a sudden all of the work that was required, whether it was ground penetrating radar or DNA, was able to be done. It was not done quickly because these things take time, but at least it happened. Now we have a dignified burial for the ten and Thomas Kent thereafter. What extra can be done by us?