Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the progress made and do not want to be entirely dismissive. Significant appointments of professionals have been made. Seven professional services are to be negotiated with and are to engage in the project. It is important that we get the best and most-expert professionals involved in creating the 1916 commemorative centre. It is important that the centre be the best in its class. When the State invests in and does its best for a project, it does deliver its best. We have many fine examples of this. However, I have to ask the Minister of State to go back to the OPW and express to it that those of us on this side are exceedingly frustrated over the glacial speed. When I say "those of us on this side", I do not mean those of us in this Chamber but the people on Moore Street, the people of our city more generally and the people from all over the country who travel to Moore Street to see the last headquarters of the 1916 Rising. They cannot fathom what is happening. They appreciate that there is debate and that it may have been hard to gain consensus, but we now have consensus and a report with consensus. We have a consensus on having a State-run 1916 commemorative centre that will be the best in its class at 14-17 Moore Street. Those concerned need to get on with it. He who hesitates is lost. At present, the State is lost on this issue. It must accelerate its efforts. I ask the Minister of State to bring that message back to the relevant Minister.