I refer to the ongoing debacle in the auction of the Pádraig Pearse surrender letter which is of immense importance to the State. I attended a protest last night. What I cannot understand is the Government is, at huge expense to the taxpayer, appealing the decision of the High Court in regard to the monument on Moore Street to secure it after years of failure by various Governments, but it does not want to spend money in purchasing the letter. I cannot understand this, given the year that is in it, of all years. Obviously, it is being sold to take advantage of the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising and increase the potential. Last night it did not meet the €1 million threshold which they had hoped to reach and they are now looking for an export licence for the letter which should be the property of the people for future generations to celebrate our heroes. The owner says he feels relieved of his responsibilities because neither the State nor the Minister is going to purchase the letter. I ask the Leader to bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and the Taoiseach. I assume everybody in this House supports the call that the State purchase the letter and secure it in a museum.

I do not.

I assume that is the case. The Government has a choice. It can spend a fortune in appealing a High Court decision against the families of the 1916 Rising leaders, but it cannot purchase the letter. I will let people make their decision about the logic behind that decision.