Legislation has been tabled by Sinn Féin seeking to declare the Moore Street battlefield site as a national monument.

The move comes in response to a Court of Appeals decision to overturn the High Court ruling that gave protection to buildings and laneways around Moore St, in addition to buildings at 14-17.

Sinn Féin Arts and Heritage spokesperson Peadar Tóibín said according to today's ruling it was up to the Government or the Dáil to declare a site a national monument.

He said the onus is on Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan to draft legislation, but added "given the hostile approach that the Government has taken to the Moore Street battlefield site to date, I’m not confident that this will happen.

"Therefore, I am submitting a bill today that will, if supported by the Dáil, finally bring to an end this ongoing saga and see the quarter blossom into the wonderful, re-energised cultural space that it could be."

Earlier the Court of Appeal ruled that the High Court did not have the jurisdiction to grant the declarations that protected the site.

Lawyers for Ms Madigan and Dublin Central Limited Partnership said they would be seeking their legal costs against Colm Moore, who took the case.

The Court of Appeal said the issue of costs would be decided later.

In a statement, the 1916 Relatives Association thanked Mr Moore for taking the case, which is aimed at preserving the Moore Street site.

The group said the case is "an important element in the overall campaign to preserve, regenerate, enhance and redefine this iconic and historical quarter of Dublin".

John Hennessy, solicitor for Mr Moore, said he will be studying the ruling before making a decision on whether to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Members of the 1916 Relatives Association were in court for the ruling

The chairperson of the 1916 Relatives Association said that he is disappointed with today's judgement.

On RTÉ's News At One, Brian O'Neill said the association will study the implications of the ruling to decide what action might be taken.

He said it is important the association moves forward with property developer Hammerson in dialogue that is constructive and open.

In March 2016, Mr Justice Max Barrett granted orders preventing works to the buildings and locations at issue after declaring they constitute a 1916 Rising battlefield site, comprising a national monument.

The orders also applied to a terrace of buildings at 14-17 Moore Street, where the 1916 leaders met for the final time and decided to surrender.

The minister had argued it was adequate to protect only this terrace where it is intended to establish a 1916 Rising Commemorative Centre.

Chartered Land, since replaced by DCLP, was subsequently joined as a notice party.

Ms Madigan has welcomed the judgment, saying it was "an extremely complex and wide-reaching case."

She added that 14-17 Moore St were declared a national monument in 2007 and the preservation of these now State-owned national monument buildings - and opening them to the public - remains the top priority.

Hammerson has also welcomed the decision of the Court of Appeal.

In a statement, Simon Betty said: "Our engagement to date with stakeholders has been unavoidably constrained by the Moore Street legal proceedings, however, the judgment now enables us to engage constructively and we are looking forward to working with stakeholders in the coming weeks."

Mr Justice Gerard Hogan said: "The narrative of history, archaeology and the arts is nearly always contested and open to differing and changing interpretations, fashions and tastes."

He gave an example of how JS Bach is regarded by many as perhaps the greatest of all composers yet his works lay neglected and forgotten for almost 180 years after his death.

He said the issue here is ultimately a political and policy choice that lies outside the realm of judicial determination and competence.

Responding to the ruling, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan said: "This was an extremely complex and wide reaching case and I will study the judgment in detail with my officials to see what the full effect of it is.

"The preservation of the State-owned national monument building at 14-17 Moore Street - the final headquarters of the 1916 leaders - and opening them to the public, remains the top priority and will obviously be the major influence over our thinking."

Additional reporting by Dublin correspondent John Kilraine.