Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

I am glad to support this important motion. The battle to preserve Nos. 14-17 Moore Street as a national monument and retention of the surrounding buildings, streets and laneways to be developed as an important historic and cultural quarter has been ongoing for years. We are only a couple of years away from the centenary of 1916 and it is appropriate for us to try to step in and sort out the situation. Many dedicated campaigners have been fighting on the issue for so long, which is a tribute to them but also an indictment of the system. I was pleased to participate in a tour of the area last year. Being there is a real eye-opener because the state of dereliction is appalling. No other country would allow such a potentially important cultural quarter to become rundown. Being there, one gets a sense of history and of our participation in the monumental events that took place almost 100 years ago. The entire quarter has important historical and cultural buildings. This includes Nos. 32 and 33 Henry Street, which are due to be demolished. The decision is before An Bord Pleanála, which must take into account the fact that we only get one chance at it. If this Parliament cannot sort it out, it does not say much for our abilities. It is scandalous, and has happened far too often, that national monuments have been allowed to deteriorate. It is timely that we discuss it this week, the week in which James Connolly, one of the key participants in 1916, founded the Labour Party.

I support the motion not as a nationalist but as an internationalist. I am conscious of the fact that what happened in 1916 was important. When Connolly talked about raising the flag over the GPO, he said it would not be enough if we were in hock to landlords and bankers. That is very relevant today as we look at a treaty in which our independence and control over these issues is up for debate.

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