Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I thank and commend Senator Norris for this legislation, which I, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party in the Seanad, will support. I urge the Minister of State and the Government to support and to adopt it.

This Bill is a labour of love. It comes from the heart. It is not dead or boring legislation or just words on paper. It really comes from a person who not only knows our city and our heritage but who also absolutely loves, values and cherishes it. In this legislation Senator Norris, I believe, is seeking to get the State to demonstrate the same passion, commitment and love for our built heritage. He comes from my part of the world, central Dublin, specifically the north inner city and, more specifically, North Great George's Street, where he lives. He is sandwiched right between Parnell Square and Mountjoy Square. We have five Georgian squares in Dublin, but Mountjoy Square is architecturally the most perfect of them. It is equal in length on each of its four sides. It stands at a height above the Custom House and is linked to the Custom House by Gardiner Street. I know that it is at a height because when I try to cycle there from out here I feel it, but I am getting better at that. Luke Gardiner, who conceived the idea of Mountjoy Square, if he were alive today, would be pilloried as a developer and a builder and would draw the wrath of the populace. Mountjoy Square dates back to 1790. It is a gem. It is not just architecturally a gem but also a living gem in the context of its biodiversity, human activity and human diversity. The nations of the world meet on Mountjoy Square. This Sunday is Super Soul Sunday, when gospel choirs from all over the city will converge on Mountjoy Square. That will be another reason to visit.

To return to the legislation, I do not say this just to point the finger at Dublin City Council or other authorities, but we as a city need to be honest about the fact that we could have done a lot better in protecting our built heritage. We can do an awful lot better at protecting our built heritage, not just conserving it but also ensuring that it is sustained into the future for future generations to experience.Our architectural and built heritage is what makes Dublin city unique. While I spend most of my time urging new building, in particular the building of new homes that must be built to modern standards, our rich built heritage is so precious and fragile and, in far too many instances, it has been neglected. The neglect is due to myriad reasons, some of them unique to each individual built property. It can be to do with ownership, the financial situation of the owners or myriad other issues. If we truly believe that our built heritage is of value and we truly want to demonstrate as a country and a nation a commitment to it, then we need to legislate to protect it, conserve it and ensure that it is sustained into the future.

I apologise as I was not present for the Minister of State's opening remarks, but I presume he will advise the House that there is a bigger piece of work - a review of the overall planning structures. I accept and support that, but when the Government deals with the review and reform of our planning processes and structures, it needs to take a very distinct look at the conservation of our built heritage and ensure actions are specified in that regard. It needs to ensure experts empowered to use their expertise and knowledge to serve all of us and to preserve our built heritage. It must ensure powers are in place to enforce the protections and to prosecute those who abuse, vandalise and destroy because there are far too many of those experiences out there. I look forward to the remarks of the Minister of State. I urge him and the Government to accept the Bill, to support it and to bring if forward and make it a reality.