Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the ongoing debacle over the auction of the Pádraig Pearse surrender letter, which is of immense importance to this State. I attended a protest last night. What I cannot understand is that the Government is, at huge expense to the taxpayer, appealing the decision of the High Court in regard to Moore Street and securing that monument after years of failure by various Governments, but it does not want to spend money purchasing this letter. I cannot understand this, given the year that is in it, of all years. Obviously, it is being sold to take advantage of the 100th anniversary of 1916 and to increase the potential.

Last night, it did not meet the €1 million threshold they had hoped for and they are now looking for an export licence for this letter which, in my opinion, should be the property of the Irish people for future generations to celebrate our heroes. The owner says he feels relieved of his responsibilities because the State or the Minister are not going to purchase this letter. I ask that the Leader would bring this to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and the Taoiseach. I assume everybody in this House supports the call that the State would purchase this letter-----