David Norris (Independent)

There is one matter I would like to raise and I am sure it is something about which both the Cathaoirleach and the Leader will be concerned. Outside this Chamber we have a portrait of Constance Markievicz who was one of the founders of this State. Her house and contents have recently been put up for sale and there is some controversy about that. That controversy is justified in view of the money-making enterprises of some of the parties involved. I wish this material had been allowed to stay there. It is important to correct the record in this House. A gentleman from Sligo was on the wireless this morning and he said that this house and its contents were but the vulgar trappings of imperialism and that the peasant people of Ireland had crawled on their bellies to pay their rents. That is absolutely untrue. The Gore-Booth family ruined themselves by not taking rents and helping their tenants during the Famine. It is about time that was recognised and history was set right. The two old sisters who were left there were besieged by the Land Commission and betrayed by the courts. That is the reward they got.