Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

As I said, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government placed a preservation order on No. 16. The area from the GPO to the Rotunda is very compact. There is an opportunity, if handled properly, to make available a multilingual explanation to people from all over the world in order that they can see the circumstances and locations where one of the first independent states was recognised in the early part of the 20th century.

Under section 14 of the National Monuments Act, the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is required for all works affecting the area covered by the preservation order. This needs to be looked at afresh. If one looks only at the preservation order on No. 16 or Nos. 14 and 17, it is very confined. The lanes are still there as is some of the original brickwork, etc., to enable a more comprehensive explanation and analysis of what went on.

I do not mean to interfere in any way with applications for planning permission which may have been granted. However, in respect of this period of our history, which will probably grow in importance as time goes on, we have an opportunity to get it right before anything happens which might impact severely on it. From that point of view, I will discuss the matter with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

There is a preservation order on No. 16 which presents us with an opportunity to handle this in a sensitive way. I say that in the context of the 1916 commemoration ceremony and all that leads to it being treated by the consultation group in a sensitive and responsible fashion.

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