Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I do not want to prejudice the planning application currently under consideration. There have been proposals for major historic presentations at the GPO site itself and that is a major plan. Those who exited the GPO in that time of insurrection had to break in through the walls of the houses on Moore Street to make their way to No. 16, from which they all exited. Some of the original brickwork is there, as well as some of the cobblestones and some of the archways into the backs of the houses. From the point of view of 20 or 50 years hence, there are possibilities, as exist in other places around the world, for people of all nationalities to come to a location where an insurrection took place at the beginning of the 20th century and which was the start of a difficult process by which this country achieved its independence. For a small state to do so in that historic period is quite significant.

The Deputy is asking me to go further. I cannot answer the question about the current position in so far as the Carlton site is concerned, although it is probably some distance away. In that mix of conversation and reality, clear potential exists although a planning process is in place that I do not wish to prejudice. As for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government becoming involved in the preservation order that was issued for 16 Moore Street, I will take up that with them because it is an issue of general interest in any event. It should be associated with the general programme of various developments that have been mentioned for the GPO, which also is important.

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