Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and the Seanad Office on the incredible work that was done to celebrate yesterday. It was a great day. It was important to celebrate 100 years of this great House and its work, with over 300 Members over the last century doing their best, coming in here every day to try to have an impact on legislation and to make themselves heard.

I want to raise the serious issue of the emergency department in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. There is a huge population in the north east and the hospital is not fit for purpose. It was not fit for purpose ten years ago and it is certainly not okay now. There is a crisis in the north east at the minute when it comes to Navan emergency department and Drogheda emergency department. We need far more resources and a bigger emergency department. I spent seven hours in there with my son a couple of weeks ago. One should not be afraid to go to an emergency department or be in the full of one's health to be able to survive it, which is the current situation in Drogheda. We are at a crisis point. We need far more resources and a significant action plan.

On a positive note, I congratulate Louth County Council for a fabulous, important initiative to celebrate a great Irish woman and north Louth woman, St. Brigid. She was an environmentalist, a goddess and a saint. She was one for everybody. 2023 will see us celebrate the very first public holiday in her honour and 2024 will mark 1,500 years since her passing. It is important that this north Louth woman is remembered by the Brigid 1500 programme. It is an important initiative and a fantastic two years of celebration. There will be live concerts featuring local musicians and choirs. The library and county museum will run workshops. There will be a fantastic opportunity for local artists or art groups to have community residency, for which a call will be put out in January. There will be a great opportunity to come to north Louth for the beautiful art and the walking tours. As an Erin Brigid, I was proud to see the Brigid 1500 programme be launched by Louth County Council yesterday. It was an important day. I congratulate them.