Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As politicians, we often give out about our health services. I went out for a run this morning, tripped, fell on my face - I am fine, though it is not obvious - and ended up in the Mater Hospital. I give huge thanks to all the staff in the Mater's emergency department. They are just tremendous given what they deal with and we are very lucky to have them and everybody who works in our health service.

I also wish to address the commentary that has been going on all week about O'Connell Street. It is our country's main street and our capital's main street. It is a street I walk on almost every day. I would take offence at and be insulted by the commentary if it was not so ignorant and ill-informed. That O'Connell Street has its problems is indisputable - and there is scope for improvement - but I do not accept the narrow characterisation of it that has been articulated by others. I am not going to repeat the ill-informed and wholly inappropriate language that was used. I invite the Deputy who spoke in the Dáil to come to O'Connell Street with me, spend a day and walk around. I also invite the Minister, who has put such a high level of dependency and people in need of additional services concentrated in this one tiny area.

A big part of the dereliction element of O'Connell Street is the Moore Street site that runs from Henry Street all the way up to Parnell Street on the western side of O'Connell Street. The State owns Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street. I am hoarse from raising this matter in the House, as the Cathaoirleach knows. I have tabled multiple Commencement matters on it. Just before the summer break, I tabled one and got a commitment from the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW, that works would commence on the national monument within weeks. In fact, I was told it would be in three to four weeks. The OPW is yet to commence those works. It is October and will soon be November. I would appreciate it if the Leader asked the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW to give us a date for commencement of works on a commemorative centre at the national monument. She might also ask the Minister of State with responsibility for drugs and the Minister for Justice to engage with the city council and local gardaí to address the issues that exist. O'Connell Street is about more than those issues. It is our main thoroughfare, there is beautiful architecture on it and we must all champion it and work with stakeholders to bring it up to its former glory.