Conor Murphy (Sinn Fein)

I echo the comments of Senator O'Loughlin on the GAA visit. Of course they would like to visit the entirety of the GAA on the island and there is an additional complexity in getting into the North, which I know people are working on. It is hoped they will have success on that.

I want to raise the issue of the GPO and the development plans for that. The GPO is one of the most significant places in the revolutionary history of this country. The idea that this historic building would be turned into shopping units and space for office corporations is absolutely shocking. There is a proposal, which I note, in the plans for a museum and a cultural centre at the GPO. Given that just around the corner on Moore Street we are now ten years waiting for a proposal to be developed for a 1916 commemorative centre, it would, understandably, fill you with scepticism about how that would be developed. That is on the back of decision by the Government to support the development of Moore Street by a private developer rather than hand that battlefield site over for development more fitting to the history of that entire area.

The regeneration of the centre of Dublin has to be grounded in a vision for progress. The master plan presented by the Moore Street Preservation Trust is worthy of Ireland's revolutionary heritage and one which will drive regeneration, jobs, housing and community revitalisation into the future. My colleague, Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh, submitted a Bill four years ago which would give effect to such a development. That Bill has not received sufficient support to move forward. It is about conserving and sensitively developing the area around the GPO and Moore Street as far as Parnell Square into a cultural historic quarter for people.

All of us who have had the privilege and the pleasure to go travelling around the world and visit other cities do so because we want to see the sites that forged the history and identity of those countries and those cities. We do so because what attracts us to those cities is that they have preserved and developed that and are proud of their history and heritage and make sure it is something their own citizens can visit and understand as well as international visitors who want to come and see what the country is about. The idea that we would take some of the most iconic sites in this country's history and allow them to be developed for commercial entities and turned into what is normal in so many other bland city centres is very concerning. I would like the Leader to arrange a debate with the relevant Minister so that the Seanadoirí can have some input into this discussion. Let the Minister come here so that we can discuss the development plans for the centre of Dublin, the preservation of history, the opportunity which arises in terms of promoting the revolutionary history of the centre of Dublin and ensuring that the problems which we currently experience in our city centre are dealt with by proper, sensitive development which benefits communities and citizens of this country, and the potential for international visitors.