Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)

Tá lúcháir orm deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an ábhar an-thábhachtach seo. Cuirim fáilte roimh an díospóireacht a bhí againn anseo, aréir agus anocht, ar an séadchomhartha náisiúnta seo atá chomh tábhachtach sin do shaol an Stáit seo, agus mar a bunaíodh saol an Stáit. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a thabhairt do na Teachtaí go léir atá an-dáiríribh agus an méid a bhí le rá acu, ó gach taobh den Teach. Sílim gurb é an rud is sonraí a tháinig ón díospóireacht seo ná an tiomántas agus an dílseacht atá léirithe ag gach Ball den Teach seo do chuimhne 1916 agus do gach aon duine a ghlac páirt ins an gcoimhlint náisiúnta. Táimid uilig ar aon ghuth gur chóir go gcaomhnófaí agus go gcosnófaí i gceart an séadchomhartha náisiúnta ag 14-17 Sráid Uí Mhórdha agus go mba cheart go mbeadh cuimhneachán cuí agus oiriúnach ann in am do chomóradh an chéid in 2016, i gcuimhne ar na laochra uile a ghlac páirt sna himeachtaí ansin Cuirim fáilte chomh maith roimh gaolta lucht sínithe an Fhorógra, atá ins an nGailearaí Poiblí agus a bhí ann aréir chun éisteacht leis an ndíospóireacht seo As the Minister noted last night, there is little to separate the two sides in the debate. The Government amendment to the motion is, in part, necessary because of factual inaccuracies in the original wording. It referred to a current planning application whereas none actually exists. Although Sinn Féin was made aware of this last week, the misapprehension was compounded when Deputy Ó Caoláin last night referred to circumstances where planning permission could be refused because of the existence of a national monument. However, full planning permission was granted for the development of the site containing the national monument by An Bord Pleanála in 2010. That permission took full account of the existence of the national monument at 14-17 Moore Street. There is no new application for planning permission and nor is it apparent from where such an application might come at this stage.

It is important to understand that what is being examined at present is an application for consent for proposed works to a national monument under the National Monuments Acts. The impact of the motion as drafted would be potentially to prejudice the application for consent, which is before the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and on which a decision has yet to be made. This is a further reason the motion as presented, with much of which Members on this side of the House can agree, could not be supported this evening.

It also was clear from the references made to the national monument being torn down that there were similar misunderstandings about what is actually being proposed regarding the national monument site. As the Minister pointed out, the Moore Street monument is fully protected under the National Monuments Acts. No works can be undertaken without the Minister's consent under those Acts. The proposals that are the subject of the current consent application to the Minister are for a 1916 commemorative centre at 14-17 Moore Street and the pressing need for such a facility in this area was highlighted by all speakers last night.

I again strongly emphasise the point that the application for consent before the Minister does not include any proposal to demolish the national monument and nor does it envisage only the facades of the buildings being kept. The bulk of the internal and external structures of 14-17 Moore Street would be retained and each of the buildings would be part of the proposed commemorative centre, with No. 16, the location of the final council of war, serving as the focal point. It is this and only this proposal, namely, the provision of the commemorative centre at the national monument at 14-17 Moore Street that now is before the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, for decision.

Ba mhaith liom, i bpáirt le gach aon duine eile a labhair, mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl do ghaolta lucht sínithe Fhorógra na Poblachta. Tá ár mbuíochas tuillte acu as an méid a rinne siad, i bpáirt le feachtasóirí eile, chun a chinntiú gur mhair an séadchomhartha náisiúnta seo, cé go raibh roinnt mhaith bagairtí air ó am go chéile i stair an Stáit. Is de bharr a gcuid gníomhartha siúd go bhfuil an deis ann anois comóradh an chéid ar na himeachtaí a tharla i Sráid Uí Mhórdha a cheiliúradh sna foirgnimh chéanna inar tharla na himeachtaí suntasacha sin. Sílim go n-aontaíonn muid ar fad leis an bhfís go mbeadh séadchomhartha náisiúnta Shráid Uí Mhórdha caomhnaithe agus curtha i láthair go cuí, mar lárionad do chomóradh an chéid.

Among those to be remembered is Major General Joe Sweeney from Burtonport, then a Lieutenant in E Company of the 4th Battalion, who was at Liberty Hall before making his way to the GPO. He fought on the roof and inside the GPO all week. On Saturday, he helped to carry James Connolly on a stretcher down through the houses to his makeshift hospital bed in No. 16 Moore Street. The Major General's family have been in contact with me regarding invitations to the Arbour Hill commemoration. They are entitled to such invitations and should attend this commemoration. This is an issue I have raised with the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, who has responsibility for that commemoration.

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