Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

Mar atá ráite ag cuid mhór dóibh siúd a labhair go dtí seo, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh teaghlaigh na laochra móra a sheas an fód i 1916. Guím gach rath ar an bhfeachtas atá amach rompu agus romhainn uilig le cinntiú go mbeidh ionad cultúrtha agus ceathrú stairiúil tógtha ar an suíomh seo i Sráid Uí Mhórdha i mBaile Átha Cliath. Is deas an rud é go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo againn. A mhéid is eol dom, is é seo an chéad uair dúinn plé a dhéanamh ar na foirgnimh a bhaineann le Éirí Amach na Cásca agus an comóradh a bheidh againn amach anseo.

Many of us have spoken tonight about the bravery of the men and women who fought in 1916, and about their honour, passion and dignity as the final moments pressed on them. We know what the goals of those men and women were and how badly they have been let down, not just by our failure as a State to mark and commemorate places such as Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street but by what has been allowed to happen in our society. Rather than establish a nation built on the ideals of the Proclamation and the democratic programme, this State allowed the worst kind of cronyism and corruption to dominate politics and the economy for the last few decades. It is ironic that the man who would show such disregard for the historical significance of the buildings we are discussing is part of the Anglo Irish Bank golden circle and a developer who has been brought into the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA.

I do not wish to dwell on the reputation and history of this developer. We all know how the developers, as a group, influenced bad planning policy and how that contributed, along with the failed policies of the banks and the last Government, to bring this State to its knees. What matters is that even after all the sordid history, a developer still appears to be holding all the cards with regard to a piece of our history which is of monumental significance. Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street and its surroundings, the battlefield site, badly need to be restored, protected and respected. The area cannot be left as it is. It must be protected and there must be development. However, what type of development should it be? It is proposed that we build another shopping centre. Do we need another shopping centre in the middle of Dublin city? Have we learned nothing from the mistakes and lessons of the last number of years?

The abject failure to fulfil the vision of the men and women who fought for our freedom can be seen in the terrible state of Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street and its surroundings. However, it can also be seen in more than bricks and mortar. In the last two weeks two news stories struck a chord with me, and probably with many others. The first was the news that a seven year old child had collapsed in a school in Cork. The child was later diagnosed with severe malnutrition. The second news story was that, once again, the Government has approved salaries above the agreed limits for public servants in the President's offices. How starkly these two news reports contrast with the ideals, hopes and visions of the heroes of 1916. "Cherishing all the children of the nation equally" is a simple yet powerful commitment in the Proclamation that successive Governments have ignored and still ignore.

In 2012, children should not be collapsing from hunger. We know people are suffering; we hear about it every day. It is not a cliché to say that this is not what the men and women of 1916 died for. They did not fight and die so this State could make its people shoulder the burden of failing private banks, so we could watch yet another generation of our young people leave our shores or so the democratically elected representatives of the people could pay themselves handsome salaries while children go to school with nothing in their bellies. It is of paramount importance that 14-17 Moore Street and the battle site area are preserved, protected and acknowledged. Moreover, it should be done in a manner that retains the potential to develop the site as a 1916 historic and cultural quarter. However, that should only be the first step in honouring those who gave so much for what they believed in. They believed in a different type of Ireland. While a cultural and historic quarter must be built, the best tribute Members can give to the men and women of 1916 is to build the lasting legacy, namely, the type of united Ireland for which they fought and died.

I will conclude by noting the Minister has argued the motion tabled by Sinn Féin is similar to his amendment. The difference is the motion would prevent the Minister from encroaching on this historic monument and allowing a shopping mall. The Minister sat in this Chamber while rare snails halted major development in this country. It is not a rare snail under discussion this evening but the council of war's last location. Must one begin to scout around Moore Street to find a rare snail to give the Minister an excuse to preserve this monument? I ask him to do the right thing.

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