Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

In fact, Nos. 24 and 25 are a relatively newly built apartment block with a depot for the City Council's refuse collection service to the rear. Within the terrace, the monument buildings themselves, Nos. 14 to 17, which are protected under the National Monuments Acts, are by far the most intact surviving buildings from the period of the Rising. My immediate remit in this case, and the application currently before me, relates to those buildings. I assure the House that I embrace and acknowledge their unique historical importance and character. I endorse everything that has been said by campaigners about the need to preserve and protect them and I assure the House that I have no intention of allowing them to be put at any risk whatsoever.

I think we can all also agree that the present appearance of the national monument buildings leaves much to be desired. I am acutely aware of the imminent approach of the 1916 centenary celebrations and of the critical need for this massively important historical site to be brought up to a standard befitting the occasion. Time is rapidly running out if this goal is to be realised and it is my intention to make a decision on the consent application as soon as the necessary deliberations and consultations have been completed. I am currently in contact with the National Museum of Ireland and I will be bringing the matter back to the Oireachtas All-Party Consultation Group on Commemorations as soon as possible to update its members on developments.

I wish to assure the House that in considering and making any decision on the application for consent before me on Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street, my first, foremost and prime concern will be to arrive at a determination that will best serve the long-term preservation and protection of the national monument itself, and the commemoration and remembrance of the epic period and personalities associated with it. In that context, I will take on board all the advice and guidance I have received, including during this debate, for which I am extremely grateful.

I wish to remind Deputy Ferris that I am very much aware of the O'Rahilly family and am a personal friend of Prionsias Ó Rathaille, the grandson of The O'Rahilly. In Listowel next Monday evening, I will be introducing a lecture on Alfred O'Rahilly who was The O'Rahilly's first cousin. I am also aware of the Shouldice and Mulvihill families' connection to the 1916 Rising; all of them were from north Kerry. I am therefore very much aware of the historical context.

I have a quasi-judicial function concerning the national monuments site. I cannot accept the Sinn Féin motion because it would prejudice, and be seen to be prejudicial to, the exercise of my statutory function. I want to point out clearly to all parties in this House that there is no issue between us as regards the protection of this national monument.

In response to Deputies Troy and Browne, I would point out that it was unfortunate that when this site was being designated by the then Minister, Dick Roche, that he did not include the battlefield as well. At that time there was no planning on the site and, therefore, no restrictions on him. It was unfortunate that an informed debate such as the one we are having tonight did not happen prior to that because the site could have been designated totally at that time as a national monument. While there is not a current planning application on the site, the fact that there is planning on it is a consideration for the battle site.

I sincerely thank Sinn Féin for raising this matter tonight. It is important that we have a very good discussion on it and I hope it will take place in the proper spirit. At the end of the day I will have to make a decision but I will be informed as much as possible before I make it because I realise how important it is.

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