Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last night, Brigid 1500 was launched in Kildare because in 2024 we will celebrate 1,500 years since Brigid walked these shores. She certainly left a very meaningful cultural and societal legacy and one that it is really important we celebrate. In many ways she was a woman ahead of her time. She was very concerned about biodiversity, sustainability, education and the arts. Most particularly, at a time when we are in a world of war, she was a woman of peace who cared deeply about social justice, so her message is as strong now or stronger than it was 1,500 years ago. Last night in Kildare we had the launch of a number of festivals and events that will happen throughout 2024. Most particularly, there will be a schools programme, which is available not just for schools in Kildare but for schools right around the country to solidify Brigid's lasting legacy. I am planning some events here in Leinster House for 1 February, so I look forward to Members' involvement. I thank all those involved in Brigid 1500, including Kildare County Council and, in particular, Sister Rita, Sister Mary and Sister Phil from Solas Bhríde, who have kept the flame of hope alive for many years. I wish all of them well.

I wish to raise again the blood-boiling issue of water outages in the Allenwood-Kilmeage-Robertstown area of south Kildare. I have to raise it here because we cannot table a Commencement matter on it because the responsibility lies with Irish Water as opposed to directly with a Minister but, obviously, the Minister has to be concerned about it. I have raised it a number of times, and the community is now seeing outages every single week. We have had eight outages in the past few weeks. It is having a hugely negative impact on houses and families, but today three schools have closed because of it as the toilets cannot be used. When three schools have been impacted, we have to call it out. Irish Water has plans in train to deal with this, but it is not time for plans. The people need solutions, and we still need to send a message to the Minister in respect of Irish Water to deal with this.

The other issue I will raise briefly relates to Pfizer. Pfizer in Newbridge has a staff of 1,200 and provides excellent employment in the area. We heard just yesterday that 100 of those will have to take redundancies or possibly transfer to the Grangegorman branch, where there will be another 130 jobs. I have spoken to County Kildare Chamber, which is talking to other companies that may be able to take on the staff, but we need to approach this in a compassionate way and to ensure that the Minister is on top of it to make sure we do not have further job losses.