Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to comment on that particular petition. I realise the committee has dealt with the Prince Albert discussion previously. This arises against the backdrop of the removal of statues in the United States, an issue that has caused much division, consternation and debate. That is a healthy thing. The point made in the response from Dublin City Council is good in the sense that it is not the role of Dublin City Council to arbitrate retrospectively on the merits of pieces of art and the erection of same.

I remember when the head was finalised on the old stone statue. I passed the park many times on Sundays when I was covering games in Parnell Park. I remember the time it was vandalised. There was an analysis article in the Sunday Independentat the time. It is not good if we start retrospectively pulling down every artwork because of changing moods at a particular time. There should be good debates. There is no harm in having a petition before us on the matter but I believe the response from the city council is right. I echo the line taken by the city council on how arbitrating retrospectively on the merits of works is not somewhere we want to go.