Kilmainham Gaol was run on lease by the trustees for many years and was kept going by voluntary workers, many of them veterans of the War of Independence, and their friends. In 1986 the trustees of Kilmainham Gaol historical museum handed over its control to the Office of Public Works. It took over full responsibility for the gaol including renovation, maintenance, security, provision of guides and caretakers and so on. The Government agreed to maintain the gaol in perpetuity for the Irish nation as a historical museum and also agreed that access to the public would be available on as many days of the week as possible.
Undertakings were given by Deputy John Bruton, then Minister for Finance and the keys were formally handed over to Deputy Doyle who was Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works at the time. Guarantees were also given by the State to provide guides and attendants and that existing voluntary workers would be given first consideration for any such vacancies that became available. This promise has been kept by all Governments up to now.
Any jobs which have arisen in these grades have been made available to existing voluntary workers. However, now with only one pre-1986 voluntary worker left, namely Mr. David Fitzgerald, the Government has broken this agreement. I understand he was recently asked to apply for the job he had been doing very well for 13 years. In that time he would have conducted tours and shown thousands of people around Kilmainham Gaol. After interview he was told that he was not up to the job and was sacked. This happened on the anniversary of the 1916 Rising.
This was a scandalous way to treat this man. I ask whether, in all justice since he is the only one of the pre-1986 voluntary helpers remaining, that some effort be made to give him a job as a guide or caretaker. It seems scandalous, considering that the two people who made the original agreement are the Taoiseach and Minister of State, respectively, that the Government is breaking an agreement solemnly given to the trustees of the museum at that time. Some effort should be made to look after this individual.