Minister must step in now to save 1916 hero’s home
KAREN Kenny, the Appeal Board’s senior planning inspector, in granting consent to demolish the O’Rahilly family home is reported to have concluded that ‘the building was not subject to any form of heritage designation’ and on that basis she considered that ‘a refusal of permission is not warranted’.
One can only assume Ms Kenny is not aware of the crucial ruling of the Court of Appeal in the Moore Street case. That court held that a building ‘the preservation of which is a matter of national importance is a national monument and worthy of the highest form of protection the State can bestow on a structure’. The O’Rahilly family home is therefore, without a shadow of doubt, worthy of preservation as a national monument on account of its direct link to the 1916 Rising. As such, it does not require designation.
Indeed there is no process under the legislation for designation. The only power that a minister has is to issue a preservation order on a monument if it is threatened in any way. Upon that basis, ministerial intervention is now required to protect this historic house from the wrecking ball and reverse the decision of An Bord Pleanála since the conclusion reached by Ms Kenny in consenting to its demolition is alarmingly based entirely on a false premise. JAMES CONNOLLY HERON, Relatives of the Signatories to
the Proclamation, The 1916 Relatives Alliance.
Lay off the young ones
REGARDING Robert Sullivan’s letter (Irish Daily Mail, Monday): He states that young Irish people are spending their €350 ‘gift’ on booze.
Robert, I know from reading your letters over the years you’re an older gentleman. Please lay off our kids as it is half of them who will have to rebuild this country when the financial hit from Covid and Brexit lands at our door.
Obviously, the other half will be leaving home for a new life in a foreign country.
I think that they deserve a drink, Robert.
M. LIVINGSTONE, Belfast.
Fianna Foul
FIANNA Fáil TDs doth protest too much, methinks. Every time they point their finger at an Taoiseach, there are three remaining fingers pointing right back at themselves.
The party’s dire circumstances is 100% their responsibility too. PAT O’CALLAGHAN,
Mallow.
EU is in the wrong
AS I understand it, the Treaty with the EU was not the end of the process as the UK Parliament had to vote on the agreement and certain amendments were included.
The one of interest here is clause 38 which allows the UK to change certain aspects of the treaty. The EU knew about this unless they were too arrogant to bother to try and understand the UK’s democratic process.
It would appear the EU has been threatening to hold the UK to ransom by trying to split Northern Ireland away from the rest of the UK. This is something that no British prime minister could possibly allow.
One would hope that this action by the EU is not with the connivance of Irish politicians. Some day the two parts of Ireland may join together but this attempt by the EU is treacherous in the extreme. Something that ordinary citizens would find beyond the pale.
The EU has not behaved in the manner required by the treaty in these negotiations. In fact, they have hardly negotiated at all, just demanding access to the UK waters forever and the UK aligning with their rules.
Again something no UK prime minister could agree to.
It is a safe bet that fishermen on the west coast of Ireland would like to regain their fishing waters for their sole use. These being given away by their politicians.
I think that the Republic has backed the wrong horse in this Brexit saga.
It won’t be long before they find that they are being bullied to pay more and more into the EU coffers. The pocket is where politics really hurts.
JIM CRIPPS, Newtownbutler.
No bright sparks
IS the world getting crazier or is it just me that thinks so?
One of the devastating fires in California is reported as having been started by fireworks at a gender reveal party.
A gender reveal party seems a rather indulgent event, more for the parents than any children on the way.
Perhaps we should celebrate the important events in life and not every event – it’s the birth of a healthy child that should be celebrated.
As to the damage done, did anyone think about the start of the word fireworks – fire! Surely setting off explosives in the heat wasn’t a great idea.
I am sure that common sense seems less common nowadays. DENNIS FITZGERALD,
by email.