Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We do not want to get lost in interminable discussions and rows between one sector and another. Work in the other areas mentioned is under way and will I hope be fully completed before 2016. When one exits the side door of the GPO, one can turn left, heading towards Moore Street. However, the gun in place at the Rotunda hospital meant that people leaving the GPO could not move towards Moore Street and The O'Rahilly was shot further up as he moved through the side buildings to 14 to 17 Moore Street. I do not have control over the planning application for anything outside the national monument, but I assume it is compatible with retaining some element of the lanes and the paths of history for those who may wish to travel the journey made by those who left the GPO and went as far as 14 to 17 Moore Street and beyond to the Rotunda hospital where the surrender took place on the footpath. I am happy to engage with people in so far as we can, but I cannot satisfy all demands. This is an issue that must be dealt with and not allowed to drag on interminably. Otherwise, 2016 and many other years will pass and the place will not have changed. We must do something about it and that involves making decisions which may not be fully acceptable to everyone. We must do the best we can in the interests of what happened. This is our capital city and part of our history. We want to build on it for new foundations for the future.

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