Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Cathaoirleach on his pink tie. Many of us are wearing pink today because it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is important that we commemorate those who sadly died with cancer, celebrate with those who survived and thrived, support those undergoing treatment and, most important, encourage women and men to get checked, including through BreastCheck when they are called for it, and to look after themselves.No matter where we were at the weekend, our minds were consumed with thoughts of two fine women, namely, Sarah Everard and Nadine Lott, their beautiful smiles and the grief and horror they went through in their last few hours of life. Of course, we were also mindful of the grief and sorrow of their families and throughout their communities. These were two women living in different communities in different countries who died in similar circumstances, one at the hands of a stranger who should have been a pillar of the community and protected and supported her, and one at the hands of a former boyfriend. Such crimes horrify and shock us all. We have to do what we can to empower women to be able to walk safely through the streets and to look for help when they need it. It is important to acknowledge the really good organisations such as Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Network Ireland and Safe Ireland and ensure that every county has a refuge such as Teach Tearmainn in County Kildare, which does such wonderful work. We also need to send a strong message to men that they should call out other men if they see certain tendencies within them. We need to do more to ensure that men do not carry out these acts of violence.

I wish to add my voice to the call for St. Brigid's Day to be a new national bank holiday. St. Brigid's Day falls on 1 February, which is also the day on which the pagan festival of Imbolc is celebrated. A conversation I had last night caused me to reflect that it should be referred to as Brigid's Day, rather than St. Brigid's Day, because the name Brigid is also associated with paganism. St. Brigid was the Greta Thunberg for our generation. She was a keen environmentalist who nurtured the land and physicians. She was an incredible role model. She was really the first feminist we had. The messages of peace and justice that she brought forward 1,500 years ago are every bit as relevant today. As a proud Lilywhite, I know that Kildare people will join me in making that rallying cry for 1 February to be the new bank holiday.