Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014
387. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will meet relatives of the signatories to the 1916 Proclamation on the proposed development with the National Asset Management Agency funding of the Moore Street 1916 battleground, the most historic site in modern Irish history, according to the National Museum of Ireland and historically beyond price according to the Imperial War Museum in London. [25426/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I have met the relatives on a number of occasions, including dedicated meetings in October 2011, June 2012, July 2013 and October 2013; in the context of other meetings including the Oireachtas Group on Commemorations; at other commemorative events; and, most recently, on 23 April 2014. This latest meeting was in the context of the discussion on the national monument in Moore Street. The issue of the development of the wider area does not come within my remit. In arriving at my decision on the consent application under the National Monuments Acts in relation to the Moore Street national monument, I took full account of all submissions and observations received, including those of the National Museum of Ireland. I have not received, nor am I aware of, any formal statement by the Imperial War Museum at any stage in relation to this case.
