Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today I wish to remember someone who lived in the Dublin Central constituency. He was a visionary, a leader, a true revolutionary, and an innovator of unparalleled intellect, integrity and modesty. I would like to remember Seán Lemass. He grew up on Capel Street. He attended O'Connell boys' school on the North Circular Road where he was an excellent student. He fought in the GPO in 1916, the War of Independence and the Civil War. Along with Eamon de Valera in 1926, he tried to convince Sinn Féin to recognise the Free State, to oppose the partition of our island and to engage in democratic politics to lead our country and our republic forward.

Along with de Valera and others he founded Fianna Fáil. He is seen as the father of modern Ireland. He saw economic success as a direct contributor to social success. He supported innovation and industry. Most importantly, he championed social values that delivered free education, social housing, investment in health and protection for workers.

Today is the 50th anniversary of his death. I am proud to say that in Dublin Central today, Fianna Fáil in government is true to those values, is championing social housing, will deliver the biggest social housing programme in over a decade, is legislating to have the State provide affordable housing both for purchase and rent on State-owned lands, and is investing more than €120 million here in Dublin's north inner city to ensure there will be a State-led commemorative centre on Moore Street for 1916 and that the dereliction that has dominated Moore Street for more than a decade will be reversed. There will be a vibrant rejuvenated street market on Moore Street and there will be a national monument that will forever pay testimony to those heroes who brought about our great Republic.