Sinn Féin tables motion to protect cultural heritage of GPO
Aengus Ó Snodaigh condemned as a "clanger" Government plans to redevelop the site.
He rejected charges that his party's plans would harm commerce in the area.
Mr Ó Snodaigh urged that the "the full heritage and cultural potential is honoured and realised", and he said that the Government's countermotion deleted that phrase from his party's proposal.
"Was it for Starbucks that all the blood was shed?" he asked, noting that the GPO's roof "gave birth to the Republic".
His party colleague Joanna Byrne criticised the Government's response to the motion, saying it was a "dismissive smoke screen", and accused the Coalition of trying to "tear the heart out of the birth place of our Republic".
Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly condemned as "shamfeful" the "breathtaking ignorance of our history" which she accused the Government of displaying.
"Commercialisation of the GPO will not be tolerated," she added.
Christopher O'Sullivan, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, responded by saying that the GPO is not just "bricks and mortar" but "a witness" to - and "living symbol" of - Ireland's struggle for freedom.
"The bullet holes still etched in its columns are not scars, but scriptures," he said.
He noted that most of the workforce has moved to a new site, and quoted a regeneration report which urged that an ambitious national flagship project be undertaken at the site.
It will remain in public ownership, he said.
He condemned as "completely outrageous" and "completely out of order" accusations made by Sinn Féin against the Government of "betrayal" and "wanton destruction".
"That is why we are strongly opposing this motion," he said, and added that there is already a commercial element at the site.
He urged the party to take advantage of this "opportunity to create something wonderful", insisting that the cultural signifiance of the site would be at the centre of the redevelopment.
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