Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

I thank the proposers of the motion for tabling it. I have been to Moore Street and I did the tour. If one was not familiar with it and went there, one would be appalled that a national monument is in such a deplorable state, and we should all feel a sense of shame about this. The buildings are listed for protection not because of their architectural merit, but because of their significant historical merit. This historical merit is not only with regard to the buildings and their facades, but also their curtilage. It is about the context of the site and it is important we recognise this and preserve it.

The madness of the Celtic tiger era is marked out by the fact that everything was measured in monetary terms. People did not buy homes; they bought property and we had trophy sites. It is very hard to find positives in the crash, but at least it has given us the opportunity to stand back and look at what is important and see where failures occurred since the 1916 Rising and the foundation of the State. If we are to rebuild society in the country we must draw from the idealism of the past. The people of the past seemed to be able to aspire to more than we can in this difficult but more wealthy time.

I am very lucky to be on the commemorative committee. The next ten years will be wonderful with a very inclusive and broad range of events to be commemorated. It is very important that we leave markers from the defining time in which we live, and some of these markers must be physical, such as buildings and places, and they must draw from the past. It is very important that we do this. Very few intact sites remain from the era we are discussing. Bolands Mill was not really one of the buildings involved but it is seen as part of the Rising and its condition is deplorable. The wall of the Mendicity Institution opposite the Four Courts is covered in graffiti. One wonders where is our civic morality and pride and we should aspire to re-engage with them.

Just as 1916 was a defining era, so is this one. We have had failures over the past 100 years and this is an opportunity for us to look forward and have a different set of values and learn from the past. Places and buildings will be important in this as well as heritage, history and idealism.

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