James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

No part of the GPO has been sold off, no part is being desecrated and there is no secret deal. These are all myths, and worse, they are deliberate distractions from the real work of heritage preservation and essential urban renewal of a changing city.

What we propose is a respectful, imaginative redevelopment of the wider GPO complex, including its cultural, the retail and office spaces that complement and enhance the historical function of the site. In the same way as many other cities have blended modern purpose with historical preservation, we too can steward heritage and opportunity side by side. This vision is drawn from the Dublin city task force, the interdepartmental working group, years of public consultation, stakeholder engagement and architectural assessments. It is rooted in our NDP. It is not a whim or an afterthought; it is a clear national priority. Sinn Féin's position on the other hand is simply to freeze the GPO, turn Moore Street into a simple museum piece but offer no route to regeneration, no strategy for sustainability and no roadmap to funding or delivery.

Good heritage policy must be adaptive and thoughtful, not locked into ideology. Let me remind this House of our decade of centenaries, one of the most inclusive, thoughtful and commemorative programmes ever undertaken by any government in the history of the State. We marked the 1916 Rising with respect, balance and dignity. We honoured all those who took part, from the volunteers to Cumann na mBan to those who died defending our city and our country.

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