Sinn Féin to lead protest outside GPO today over plans for more shops and offices on site
The controversial plans are part of wider efforts to revamp the city centre.
However, Sinn Féin has hit out at the , saying it would be better to take a 'visionary approach' to the redesign.
Dublin South-Central TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh told The Journal that if the site is to be repurposed, it should only be for historical and cultural uses, because of it's central role in the Easter Rising of 1916.
'The public are adamant that the GPO is hallowed ground and should be respected, and can play a part in telling our story,' he said.
He wasn't prescriptive about the specifics of what should be done with the site, saying instead that a conversation should be had.
The GPO already has retail units that open onto Henry Street, which are rented by businesses. There were a number of ideas about what could be a better use of the complex, including a suggestion that it become home to RTÉ. The idea was shot down.
Ó Snodaigh says the government needs to be 'imaginative'.
'What Irish people, I believe, are saying is this space should be different to the retail and office space around it.
Advertisement
'It could help regenerate and revitalise that part of the city if it was approached properly,' he said.
'There are a lot of cultural institutions around the city that don't have enough space. There are artists with no space. They can't display their wares, they can't do their work. There's a shortage of small venues in the evening time.'
The protest, which kicks off at 1pm time today, coincides with the All-Ireland hurling semi-final. Ó Snodaigh hopes the sporting event combined with the good weather will encourage people to join the rally.
Revitalising the city centre
Bringing the GPO proposal to cabinet last month, the Taoiseach said Dublin has become 'less welcoming' since the pandemic.
He said that in recent years safety concerns in the capital have been highlighted.
To address this, the Taoiseach proposed that a Designated Activity Company be set up to regenerate parts of the city, similar to the approach taken in the 1990s when Temple Bar was redeveloped.
While that is being set up, a Project Management Office will be established by the council to begin the work urgently.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described the GPO revamp as 'another shameful betrayal of Ireland's proud revolutionary history'.
Junior Minister for Heritage Christopher O'Sullivan said some of the points made by her party in opposing the plan
are 'absolutely outrageous'
.
The Cork South West TD argued that his party and Fine Gael have invested in commemorating the early revolutionary period of the Irish State and noted that €10m has already been invested in the current GPO experience and exhibition.
'We absolutely hold this period of Ireland's history dear to our hearts…Sinn Féin don't own this. They don't own the narrative. We all have a connection to that revolutionary period,' he said.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
New ‘right to be forgotten' law for cancer survivors marks significant step – survivors deserve to move on with lives
THERE was some good news for cancer survivors this week. The Government said it will progress plans to give them the 'right to be forgotten' and end barriers to accessing financial products. 2 Robert Troy writes that cancer survivors deserve to move on with their lives without being penalised Credit: Alamy 2 The Government will bring forward legislation to enshrine in law that they have the 'right to be forgotten' Credit: Getty Images - Getty The Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 will ensure cancer survivors can't be discriminated against when it comes to obtaining certain insurance products, specifically mortgage protection, due to their medical history. For too long, cancer survivors in Ireland have faced an uphill battle not just in beating the cruel disease but then in rebuilding their lives, particularly when it comes to accessing basic financial products. Despite being in remission for years, many are penalised for their past diagnosis. The legislation was proposed by Fianna Fail's Catherine Ardagh. Writing in The Irish Sun on Sunday today, Robert Troy, Minister of State with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, says a fairer deal for cancer survivors starts now. READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS THIS week marked a significant step forward in our commitment to fairness, transparency and compassion in the insurance market. The Government will bring forward legislation before the summer recess to enshrine in law the 'right to be forgotten' for At the heart of this legislation is a simple principle: if you've beaten cancer, your past diagnosis should not define your financial future. Survivors deserve to move on with their lives — to buy a home, protect their Most read in The Irish Sun Many cancer survivors in Ireland have found themselves excluded or charged unfairly when applying for basic financial protections like The major symptoms of 'common cancer' as HSE say 'know the signs' That's not right. It's not reflective of the person they are today, nor is it reflective of the values we aspire to as a country. That's why this Government is acting. This is a Bill with broad cross-party support. I must commend my Her effort over the years has allowed me to introduce it as a Government Bill, speeding up the process and advancing it before the summer recess. CERTAINTY NEEDED Her tireless advocacy has helped bring this issue to the fore and push it up the political agenda. The new legislation will start with mortgage protection — following international best practice — and we hope to review the scope of the legislation in future in a careful, informed way, with a view to delivering the most impact for the greatest number of people. I want to acknowledge the positive steps already taken within the industry. In 2023, a Voluntary Code of Practice was introduced by Insurance Ireland and supported by the Irish It was a welcome move that showed what is possible when an industry works with advocates and Government to do the right thing. However, voluntary codes alone aren't enough. Survivors deserve certainty. That's what this legislation will provide. ADVANCEMENT SHOULD NOT BE PUNISHED Enshrining this into law means While eight companies signed up to the Voluntary Code, its very nature meant they could withdraw or that new entrants to the market could disregard it. That will not be the case with this law. This is about removing unnecessary barriers to home ownership and It's about making sure our insurance system treats people with dignity, respect and fairness. And it's about restoring confidence that the market is transparent and working in the best interests of all citizens. Cancer is a monumental hill to climb for individuals, their partners and families. We are fortunate that with advances in That advancement should not be punished. Survivors who have been without treatment for seven years, or five if diagnosed under the age of 18, will now have clarity and comfort. This legislation is also a direct delivery on our Programme for Government commitment. It was included for a reason: because it's the right thing to do. REFORM FOR FAIRNESS The Government has been clear in its ambition to drive a more inclusive and fair insurance landscape. This announcement is a major milestone on that journey. It was a piece of legislation which I wanted to make real progress on when I took up my role in January and it is my intention that this Bill will be enacted before the end of the year. It is also important to recognise the ongoing work of the Irish Cancer Society whose campaigning and research has been instrumental, and Insurance Ireland, who have constructively engaged throughout and managed the Voluntary Code of Practice. Legislative drafting is underway and we are working closely with colleagues across We're also talking with key stakeholders to ensure the law strikes the right balance between consumer protection and market integrity. We want to send a clear message to cancer survivors: We see you, we support you, and we are changing the law to make your path forward easier. This reform is not about punishing insurers, it's about building a market that is based on fairness, transparency, and compassion. That's what modern Ireland should be about. And that is what this Government is delivering.
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Trump ‘considering' taking away US citizenship from comedian Rosie O'Donnell
President Donald Trump says he is considering 'taking away' the US citizenship of a long-time rival: the actress and comedian, Rosie O'Donnell. The move comes despite a decades-old Supreme Court ruling that expressly prohibits such an action by the government. 'Because of the fact that Rosie O'Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship,' Mr Trump wrote in a social media post on Saturday. He added that Ms O'Donnell, who moved to Ireland in January, should stay in Ireland 'if they want her'. President Donald Trump has threatened to remove the actress's citizenship (Evan Vucci/AP) The two have criticised each other publicly for years, an often bitter back-and-forth that predates Mr Trump's involvement in politics. In recent days, O'Donnell on social media denounced Mr Trump and recent moves by his administration, including the signing of a massive tax breaks and spending cuts plan. It is just the latest threat by Mr Trump to revoke the citizenship of people with whom he has publicly disagreed, most recently his former adviser and one-time ally, Elon Musk. But Ms O'Donnell's situation is notably different from Mr Musk, who was born in South Africa. Ms O'Donnell was born in the United States and has a constitutional right to US citizenship. The US State Department notes on its website that US citizens by birth or naturalisation may relinquish US nationality by taking certain steps – but only if the act is performed voluntary and with the intention of relinquishing U.S. citizenship. Amanda Frost, a law professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, noted the Supreme Court ruled in a 1967 case that the 14th Amendment of the constitution prevents the government from taking away citizenship. 'The president has no authority to take away the citizenship of a native-born US citizen,' Ms Frost said in an email on Saturday. 'In short, we are nation founded on the principle that the people choose the government; the government cannot choose the people.' Ms O'Donnell moved to Ireland after Mr Trump defeated vice president Kamala Harris to win his second term. She has said she is in the process of obtaining Irish citizenship based on family lineage. Responding to Mr Trump on Saturday, Ms 'Donnell wrote on social media that she had upset the president and 'add me to the list of people who oppose him at every turn'.
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Is Ireland ready for drab Soviet-style apartment blocks?
In the postwar years, a rapidly urbanising Soviet Union embarked on a mass construction programme. It built standardised, mass-produced, cheap, drab blocks of apartments intended as temporary for 20-25 years. Typically floor areas were just 30-40sq m (equivalent to three standard parking spaces). Led by Nikita Khrushchev, they became known as Khrushchyovkas. This week, Minister for Housing James Browne issued new apartment standards that resurrect the old Khrushchyovkas as the urban housing ambition for 21st century Ireland. It is now possible to build entire blocks of 32sq m studio bedsits with no limit on the number of residents sharing a corridor or lift. Up to half of these homes may have no private amenity space. On urban sites, communal outdoor space is negotiable, and on larger schemes developers can design out playgrounds and childcare facilities . Local authorities may no longer require space to be set aside for laundry, clothes-drying, gyms, community or cultural use. There is no transparency about where these standards originated, and they came into force immediately without public consultation, pre-legislative scrutiny or a regulatory impact assessment. Almost a Trumpian executive order, the suddenness and absence of transition arrangements have brought uncertainty into the entire sector, risking delays, additional costs and, inevitably, legal action. It seems in direct defiance of the Department of Finance's recent warning that 'in order to attract private capital, policy certainty is key'. This uncertainty is more likely to shake confidence than to 'get apartment building moving'. A new Planning Bill – as yet unseen – is to be rushed through, putting in doubt current planning applications, local authority development plans, statutory housing needs and demand assessments, and indeed forecasts for infrastructure capacity. READ MORE So are these changes justified? The Minister claims savings of a 'an average of €50k and up to €100k cost reduction per unit', although no calculations are provided. His own department's most recent figures for urban apartment development indicate hard construction costs of almost €180,000 (incl VAT) to build a 37q m one-person studio. On this basis, cutting 5sq m from the structure would only save about €3,500 (incl VAT) (€615/m2 structure costs + VAT = €698x 5 = €3,490 structure costs) given no reduction in other hard costs (kitchen, bathroom, windows, doors, heating, plumbing, electrics, etc). In all likelihood any potential savings would be wiped out within months on redesign, tender inflation of 3 per cent annually and finance. [ Government measures designed to drive apartment building are 'not as effective in practice as envisaged' Opens in new window ] The Minister may believe that squeezing more smaller apartments into the same building will result in lower unit costs. Evidently, a studio for one person will be a cheaper unit than an apartment for two, three or more. Without the evidence, this seems more spin than worked solution. We might hope that developers and investors won't buy into these lower standards. Experience tells us otherwise. When lower standards for build-to-rent apartments and co-living were introduced, it wiped out the 'viability' of urban build-to-sell which was marginally less profitable. Consequently, investment funds now control more than 17,000 new rental apartments, according to figures reported in the Business Post, while only 943 were sold in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway cities in the last six years, CSO figures show. In response to these changes, many investors will pause to assess whether the uncertainty, disruption and legal risks are worth it. So how might they jump? Let's imagine an apartment block of 100 units with permission for 50 two-bedroom apartments, 25 one-bedroom and 25 studios. Using typical rents for new-build apartments in Dublin, our 100-unit scheme could generate a rent roll of €275,000 per month (gross). However, replacing it with 178 small studios could bring in €370,000, a 35 per cent increase. This is certainly enough to send many back to the drawing board. But regardless of how – or when – they jump, this week's announcement gifted all residential landowners a new profit (on paper) from increased development potential. Land is valued on the 'residual' of the end value less the development costs. When the future rent roll increases, it brings up the current land value. This windfall is now booked on the balance sheets and baked in, eventually to be paid in higher rents and mortgages – in one stroke both worsening the 'viability' of larger apartments, and widening the affordability gap. So how many people could be housed in these newly configured buildings? Taking, our example above, a permitted block of 100 apartments can now squeeze in 178 studios. Good news for the 'supply target' with a 78 per cent increase in units on the site. Unfortunately, not so good for anything else. Small units are very inefficient: a block of 178 studios can only legally accommodate 178 people, whereas the same space laid out as 100 apartments can house 275. In fact, the larger 2016 Dublin City Council standards could comfortably fit more than 300 people in a mix of units -all with decent, flexible living conditions, suited to couples, families and sharers. So, in our example, for the same development cost and the same drain on limited construction resources, Browne has incentivised 78 per cent more units, but housed 41 per cent fewer people. Bizarrely, his initiative may give us poorer quality homes while taking longer and costing more. Browne says that he is 'prepared to take risks'. Perhaps consider these risks – of regulatory capture; of rejecting evidence-based plans and democratic processes; of further inflating land values; of incentivising a glut of over-priced substandard homes; of ignoring the 50 per cent of households with children; of believing that squeezing out a washing machine or space for a pram will tip the balance of international financial markets in Ireland's favour. Ireland's speculative housing system has legacies of boom and bust, planning irregularities, ghost estates, low standards, over-inflated values, market crashes and deep recessions that are both recent and painful. We are still paying the price for the last time developers were left to decide what to build, where, and at what quality and cost. In this complex ecosystem even seemingly minor decisions are not without major consequence. If his new Housing Minister doesn't see the risks, Taoiseach Micheál Martin surely should. Orla Hegarty is an assistant professor at the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, UCD
