Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is true. For ages we have seen excuse after excuse from the establishment of this State for not simply making Moore Street a national monument. It is incredible. The parties will always find a reason.

I was told during the Government's appeal of the High Court case that it was not about Moore Street and its importance as a national monument, it was simply about planning issues that would lead to issues arising right around the country. At the time I suggested separating the Moore Street issue from that potential consequence. The Bill does exactly that. It separates the consequence of the High Court case that the Government pursued.

The art of politics in Ireland is to say one thing and do nothing or say one thing and do the opposite. The Government and the Opposition in terms of Fianna Fáil are saying they support Moore Street being a national monument but refuse to make it one. That is deeply frustrating because there is a cynicism involved in that regard. The honest thing to do would be to vote against the Bill on the basis of not thinking it is a national monument.

The truth of the matter is whether it is housing, healthcare, education or even the battlefield sites that gave birth to the Republic, there is a strain and instinct among the establishment that says, "Thou shall not inhibit private interests". There is always a deference to the private interests in the State. I believe there should be commercial energy within the State and a national monument allows for commercial energy but it must be in sympathy with the objectives of a national monument. It really is heartbreaking to witness the failure of another opportunity to finally protect the Moore Street area. Does the Minister think the national battlefield site at Moore Street is a national monument?

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