Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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95. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the up-to-date engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied) to progress the re-internment of the Invincibles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19917/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Kilmainham Gaol, National Monument 675, opened in 1796 as the new County Gaol for Dublin and closed in 1924. Today the building symbolises the tradition of militant and constitutional nationalism from the rebellion of 1798 to the Irish Civil War of 1922-23. Leaders of the rebellions of 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867 and 1916 were detained and in some cases executed here.

The Kilmainham complex is spread across two buildings, the Gaol itself incorporating the Kilmainham Gaol Museum and the adjacent Kilmainham Courthouse which was acquired from the Dept. of Justice to provide enhanced Visitor Facilities for the Gaol as part of the 1916 Centenary Commemorations. The Gaol houses an extensive archive of material not only relating to the seminal moments in Ireland’s struggle for independence, but also reflecting the social history of crime and punishment pertaining to the period of its operation as a place of incarceration for the ordinary citizen.

The Invincibles were a militant group within the Irish Republican Brotherhood or Fenians. Following the assassination on 6th May 1882 of Lord Frederick Cavendish, Chief Secretary and Thomas Burke, the Permanent Undersecretary in the Phoenix Park by a group who came to be known as the Invincibles, five people were eventually charged and convicted.

The Office of Public Works is aware of a campaign led by the National Graves Association to exhume the bodies of the men involved and re-inter them in the Republication plot in Glasnevin. As the Deputy has previously been advised, there are a number of matters to consider, both in terms of the significant practicalities and the ethical issues involved.

Presently, desktop research is being undertaken, looking at a number of historic document sources to establish is any relevant records or information exists. This is ongoing as I speak and as such, the Office of Public Works has not recently been in contact with the National Graves Association to discuss this matter.

Once this piece of research is complete, OPW intends to re-engage with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and will, if required, at that stage, engage with the organisation named.

Finally, I would like to thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter and reassure him that the Office of Public Works will, of course, work with all relevant Government Agencies to reach a conclusion to this matter.