Dublin City Council Motion on Moore St is Another Reason to Stop the Hammerson Plan

Dublin City Council Motion on Moore St is Another Reason to Stop the Hammerson Plan - Tóibín

Responding to the news that Dublin City Council has made Protected Structures of Moore St buildings, Aontú Leader and former Moore St Development Forum member, Peadar Tóibín stated;

“Dublin City Councillors voted last night for the full protection of numbers 10 and 20/21 Moore Street. This is a significant outcome in the long running campaign to save the Moore St, Battlefield Site. Moore St is in many way the birthplace of the Irish Republic. It was the last stand of the volunteers in 1916. It could be an heritage resource of international value. It could allow citizens and tourists alike the opportunity, like the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam does, to immerse themselves in the experience of what it was like for the men and women who sacrificed so much for our freedom. Instead so far none of that opportunity has been realised. All of this offers an opportunity to revitalise the who area of north west of O’Connell St. But that’s not what has happened. Moore St is instead a location for drinking, drug taking, urination and defecation”.

“Indeed Moore St is now also the location of serious allegations into whether or not significant money was offered to on-street traders by officials to sway their support towards the Hammersons Planning application. I have asked the Minister for Heritage through the Dáil’s Parliamentary Question system to investigate the veracity or not of these allegations. These are published allegations. They have also been referred to on the floor of the Dáil and they alleged that officials in the Minister’s department were involved. To both these questions the Minister for Heritage Darragh O’Brien has stated that he is not responsible to even answer a question about an investigation into the allegation”.

“The victory on Dublin City Council last night, the continuing turmoil within An Bórd Pleanála, who did not allow a hearing on the Hammerson plans for Moore Street and these allegations of corruption mean that the Minister for Heritage must deliver on his responsibility and declare the site a National Monument now and proceed with the proper, heritage sensitive, revitalisation of the Moore St Battlefield Site”.

CRÍOCH

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.