Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The year 2016 approaches and with it the commemoration of the Easter Rising. While we have many defining moments in our history, the Easter Rising is a particularly significant one. We have had a number of celebrations to date including the strike and Lock-out and Cumann na mBan, which have been very well organised and dignified. The events in store for the anniversaries of the outbreak of the First World War and the Howth gun running operation will also be well organised and dignified.

There were a number of venues used for the Easter Rising from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland at St. Stephen's Green to Mount Street Bridge etc. We can agree, however, that the GPO and Moore Street were absolutely vital. They are the place the Rising began and the venue that saw its end. There are great plans in place for the GPO but there are serious difficulties around Moore Street. There was a litany of errors in the past, starting with Dublin City Council right the way through. One of those errors might have seen the whole area obliterated in the late 1990s. That would also have seen the end of the significant street trading tradition in Moore Street. It was only due to the relatives who were able to campaign and bring about the preservation order in 2007 which led to the Minister being able to designate Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street as the commemorative centre and a national monument.

There are indications from a number of people that the developer's assessment of the site was inadequate and flawed. That has been proven by things that have been discovered since it was carried out. What is in store for the national monument is that it will be either dwarfed by a massive shopping centre or surrounded by a derelict site. Neither represents a dignified memorial to the men and women of the 1916 Rising. There are also concerns as to who will own, control and finance Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, with whom I have had this debate on many occasions, has said he has gone as far as he can on this. Regardless of who is in power in 2016, the onus and responsibility is on those in power now to ensure that the centenary celebration is dignified. As the Minister has gone as far as he can, I ask the Taoiseach to accede to the request from the relatives to meet them personally. The commemoration in 2016 requires the Taoiseach's leadership and direction at this stage.

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