Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to have the opportunity to make a short contribution to this debate. As my colleague Deputy Fleming has said, it is appropriate that we are discussing this Bill on the eve of 2016. This is the last Private Member's Bill to be put before the Dáil in this session. I compliment Deputy Ó Cuív on the work he has done in preparing the Bill in consultation with the many interested parties and groups who have worked for many years to build an awareness and to generate a momentum behind properly commemorating those people who did so much to give us the freedom we enjoy.

Last night, in a very wide ranging and illuminating contribution, Deputy Ó Cuív spoke about the fact that the events of 1916 happened in an era when the British Empire dominated the world. A small group of people took a stand at that time, emboldening public opinion in favour of the establishment of an independent nation.

Deputy Ó Cuív referred to the theme of the First Dáil, the exactitude that was pursued in establishing it and, subsequently, the different political systems and structures that were put in place, which have stood the test of time despite various challenges and difficulties over the years.

It was on the discussion of a similar motion in the Seanad that I heard Senator Paschal Mooney refer to Springfield, Illinois, where President Lincoln was born. A particular area of the city was developed in commemoration of its famous son, with structures and buildings proper to the commemoration of a famous world statesman. Senator Mooney also made the valid point that, as well as commemorating an iconic figure in politics, it was a huge tourist attraction and brought many visitors to that city. The Bill before us is not just about bringing visitors to Dublin city. It is about a proper commemoration, but the positives downstream from that are a rejuvenation of part of the city and the economic activity that flows from that.

Deputy Ó Cuív, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil party, has put forward the Bill and I am disappointed the Government seems to be opposing it. The Bill goes much further than the current legislation designed to refurbish and restore the Moore Street area. What the Fianna Fáil Party wants is to create a 1916 historical quarter in Dublin city which will encompass not only the GPO and Moore Street but also other key locations which were linked to the 1916 Easter Rising, such as Boland's Mills, the South Dublin Union, which we now know as St. James's Hospital, the old Jacobs factory and the Royal College of Surgeons, to name but a few of the different locations that should be restored and included in a commemorative trail. Eventually, we would like to see the preservation of all of the locations where Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizen Army fought during Easter week.

The Bill provides for the establishment of an urban development company which would oversee the creation of the 1916 historical quarter to ensure that areas of historical significance are given the prominence they deserve. Beginning with the GPO and the Moore Street area, the development company would undertake major regeneration and restoration works in and around Dublin city centre, which would not only serve to market an important event in Ireland history, but would also breathe life back into areas which have fallen into disrepair. That would be one of the many positive features that could emanate from the State going about this development in the proper way.

As a Parliament and as a country, we should want to create a city that respects and preserves its history, while at the same time rejuvenating those areas. Fianna Fáil is calling for the establishment of a freedom trail, to which Deputy Ó Cuív referred last night, to clearly identify all of the sites associated with the Easter Rising.

Deputy Fleming referred to the different commemorative programmes that are being put in place, mainly through the work of the local authorities. I attended a number of events in Cavan where we sought to bring together people who were interested in this project. In Cavan and Monaghan great work has been done in putting together good, ambitious, practical and inclusive programmes. Deputy Seamus Kirk and our former Dáil colleague, Rory O'Hanlon, have been very active in Louth and south Monaghan in running a series of commemorative events and lectures to highlight and commemorate that period.

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