Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

In six years we will commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising, one of the most significant events in Irish history. Already, plans are being put together which I am glad are progressing favourably.

When we celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Rising we saw the great outpouring of sentiment among the public and the great sense of pride as well. It is evident in the new plan that many landmarks associated with that particular period will come centre stage, the GPO being one of them, but there is another area, namely, Moore Street, which was virtually the last stand in the Rising. I am talking about buildings Nos. 14 to 17, and the environs. I find it particularly embarrassing that the descendants of the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation, which I have here, have had to take a stand to ensure that particular landmark, which is national monument in every sense, is not in danger of desecration.

This is a matter for the city council and, to some extent, for An Bord Pleanála, but it is also a matter of national interest. I ask the Leader to take up the matter with the Taoiseach immediately to ensure there will be no dilution of the status of those buildings and the environs and that it will not be necessary in the future for the direct descendants of the seven signatories to take a stand in this case because in terms of commemorating that centenary, if the wrong action is done now, it will distract from what should be a momentous occasion for us in this nation. I ask the Leader to treat this as a matter of urgency.