Petitions Committee to consider petition seeking the removal of statue of Prince Albert from the grounds of Leinster House

Committee Chairperson, Seán Sherlock, said today, “The statue of Prince Albert, Consort of Queen Victoria, has resided in its current location, on the Merrion side of Leinster House since 1923. The petitioner is seeking its removal based on the fact that it represents British rule over Ireland. The statue was the work of notable Irish sculptor John Henry Foley, his other famous works in Ireland include the statue of Daniel O’ Connell on O’Connell Street and Edmund Burke outside Trinity College. Its partner statue,  that of Queen Victoria herself, was gifted to the city of Sydney, Australia in 1987.”

The Committee will also consider petitions on:

•    Ending the Irish arms trade with Israel;
•    Bringing Irish hospitals up to European standards;
•    Reinstating the ECC Scheme Scheme Over Age Exemption for Children with Special Needs.

The meeting will start at 1.30pm in Committee Room 1, Leinster House.

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