The relatives of the seven signatories of the 1916 Proclamation attended a debate in the Irish Senate this week about the preservation of a number of historic houses on Dublin’s Moore Street, including Number 16, the last headquarters of the Easter Rising leaders.

Minister of State for Heritage Michael Finneran told the relatives and the press that the preservation order on Number 16 Moore Street was an important part of the wider redevelopment proposals for the area.

The Minister rejected calls that the preservation order be extended to include the entire Moore Street terrace because, he said, it would not add to the historical significance of Number 16.

Fine Gael Senator Paschal Donohoe said that if the government puts in place a historical centre or a monument, it should clearly outline what happened in the properties and the perimeter area should reflect the location.

Fianna Fail Senator Labhras O'Murchu said that the prospective private developer is going to appropriate more than 60 percent of that historic environment, a move he found unacceptable.

Fine Gael Senator Paul Coughlan suggested the Senate reflect on how important the site could be from a tourism point of view.