Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)

The GPO should be preserved for generations and should become a focal point, along with the preservation and restoration of nearby Moore Street. They should be part of a historical and cultural quarter of the city that respects the importance of the history of 1916. I do not know about the other Deputies, but I could not believe my ears when the Taoiseach spoke about putting first-class retail into the GPO. Holy moly. The place is already surrounded by retail. Has the Taoiseach not seen that?

This is the main street of our capital city. Every single day, it is full of people from all over Ireland and the world. Let us use this opportunity to educate people on the history of the Easter Rising. Let us showcase our Irish culture, our music, our literature, our dance and our language. Yes, the GPO should continue to do what it does best: to operate as a post office. At the moment, O'Connell Street and Moore Street are full of phone shops, vape shops and decaying buildings. The area has been falling into despair for years. We clearly need to take bold steps to revitalise this part of the city. I believe that Deputy Ó Snodaigh's motion and the Moore Street Preservation Trust's plan are what can do that. The GPO is where our freedom was proclaimed. We should be protecting and preserving it. It should be a focal point for our history.

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