Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak and thank Deputy Higgins and the other signatories for putting down this motion. The 100th anniversary of the 1913 Lock-out is an appropriate opportunity to reflect on a tumultuous period in our history, which could be tied to many historic events, culminating with the end of hostilities in the Civil War in 1922. It could be argued that we still live with the effects and divisions of that decade in Irish history. We will be subject to many debates and discussions on these significant anniversaries over the next ten years.

I hope that in remembering and reflecting on this turbulent period in our history we learn from it and that in considering these events we can make positive contributions to our future. It should be noted this Government has made contributions with trades unions, such as reversing the cut to the minimum wage and taking 330,000 from paying the universal social charge. I also recognise the positive work trades unions carry out on behalf of their workers and that they contribute greatly to an economy in a developed country such as Ireland. We have seen at first hand how the unions have engaged through the Croke Park and Haddington Road agreements to ensure industrial peace at a difficult time of transition for public sector workers.

It is a pity the motion does not recognise the equally positive contribution made by the 202,000 registered employers in this country who are struggling to maintain their enterprises and who are equally keen to maintain the incomes of their workforce of 2,350,000 registered employees. On reading and listening to the proposers of the motion, we could be forgiven for believing we live in a medieval society. The truth is we live in a nation where per capita income is 14th in the world, and well above the European average. The distribution of wealth within this territory, therefore, is of concern to everyone but while I believe it is best resolved through initiative, work and ultimately, reward, there are some who would take from us and provide hand outs to the rest.

On the one hundredth anniversary of the Lock-out of 1913 we again have a call for secondary strikes, which would only serve to emulate and mirror the failed Marxist ideologies of the turn of the last century. They did not work then and this call for a backdoor revolution will not work now. If we have learned anything from this period it is that there is a better way than confrontation and violence, whether in Dublin in 1913 or in the trenches of Europe. Much more can be achieved by engaging in constructive dialogue and debate and negotiating a better deal for everyone.

The Dublin workers of 1913 have, quite rightly, been celebrated in literature, theatre, song, dance and ultimately in history. That, of course, does not tell the full story. It never does. I am pleased this motion might give an opportunity to give a greater balance to the story of the 1913 Lock-out.

One of the most reviled figures of the 1913 Lock-out was the leader of the employers' group, William Martin Murphy, but his story is very different. It is a huge story, a success story in many ways. He was a true republican, not the hijacked version we hear about, he did not believe in partition, he refused an honour from the king. He was an Irish patriot who was born and reared in very humble circumstances. It was only in researching that I found out he was born in Castletownbere in west Cork, grew up in Bantry and lived in Cork and in Dublin. He built bridges, schools and churches all over Ireland and built a transport network.

In the calls for memorials, I agree with the motion that there should be a memorial to the five people who lost their lives but there is a memorial to Larkin in O'Connell Street and a memorial to Connolly outside SIPTU. I do not know how many memorials are needed, perhaps this is a Marxist thing of building statues to great people. One memorial per person is enough. Perhaps, in the interest of balance and commemoration, and although the memory might not be one we all agree with, and any true republican would support that, the Technical Group might have an idea for where they would like to see a memorial to William Martin Murphy. Perhaps Deputy Ross might know if there is one in the offices of the Sunday Independent.

See this speech in context