AN Irish patriot may make a return to Leinster House, weeks after being "banished" to a visitors room in a nearby annex to the parliamentary complex.
The fate of Lord Edward Fitzgerald was raised by Mr David Norris (lad), who inquired if the Government planned to mark the 200th anniversary of the 1798 rebellion.
How was Lord Edward, who had played a significant role in the development of our State, to be commemorated, Mr Norris wondered.
A portrait of Lord Edward had in the recent past been removed from the House, Mr Norris noted. It seemed a pity that any trace of the Fitzgerald family should not be retained in a building so historically linked to them.
The House leader, Mr Maurice Manning, said he regretted the removal.
There should be room in the House proper for such a portrait, and he would have the matter raised at a meeting of the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
A spokeswoman for the Houses of the Oireachtas pointed out that historic portraits of Fitzgerald family members could be viewed in the visitors' room in the adjoining former College of Art part of the building.