Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Senator Norris is very humble when he says that he is not the world's greatest Joycean scholar. No matter what, he is our Joycean scholar and we are all incredibly proud of him both for his work on Joyce and literature and for the work he has been doing in the Seanad. In addition to celebrating the 100th anniversary of the publication of Joyce's Ulysses, it is also important to note that he was 40 on the day it was published so today would have been his 140th birthday. There is no doubt that the world of literature was changed forever. It is terrific to see how our culture and our literature are yet again being celebrated around the world.

In particular, I wish to mention Susan Leybourne who at this moment is in the Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris having published an e-book. In celebrating the 100th birthday of Ulysses, she has organised a birthday cake to come from Trieste and has organised school competitions in Italy, France and Ireland. How we handle our literature and our understanding of literature are important. I thank the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, for her and support on that. Long may we live to read the works of Joyce and celebrate them.

Yesterday, I spoke about a bridge between the pagan world and the Christian world and that bridge was St. Brigid.I want to talk about another bridge today and that is Caragh Bridge in Kildare. For the second time since 2016, the bridge has been substantially damaged. This means a large part of the population of Caragh has been cut off from the other part. It is causing absolutely huge disruption in getting to school and getting to work. It is also causing huge disruption to the businesses in Caragh which do not have passing traffic. As this is an historic monument permission must be sought from the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan. I have written to both to ask them to give their permission very quickly for the work that needs to be done. Tenders are being sought at present. There is a bigger issue here. The bridge is not fit for purpose with regard to the quality and quantity of vehicles traversing it. There should be another bridge. I also ask for an assessment of the bridges in Kildare. There is a huge number of bridges because of two canals, various rivers and our railway works. I am very concerned not only about Caragh Bridge but also Moore's Bridge and, of course, I also have to mention the necessity for a new bridge crossing in Newbridge.