I will talk a little about all of the celebrations all over the country yesterday for St. Patrick's Day. We are incredibly lucky that it is a feast day celebrated all around the world. People come together to celebrate Irish culture, music and tradition. Buildings in cities turned green. There were festivals. It is a day that highlights a sense of joy and community. It showcases the very best that we have in volunteers and in our community and sporting clubs.

The parades I attended in Kildare were particularly good. I will talk specifically about Newbridge, which was filled with energy, colour and a huge sense of local pride in every single float and performance. I know that is reflected right across the county and country. It showed incredible effort and creativity, making it a memorable celebration for everybody. I thank all the parade committees and volunteers from the clubs who got involved.

We all watched as the Taoiseach met Donald Trump yesterday to highlight the strong ties between Ireland and the United States. In the current global climate, with many different political and economic challenges shaping international challenges, such engagements are certainly far from straightforward and are rarely without challenge. I know the visit attracted a certain amount of public criticism. I feel that the Taoiseach handled the situation with pure professionalism and composure, representing Ireland with confidence and reinforcing important diplomatic connections on the world stage.

I send a note of sympathy to the family of Dolores Keane. She was such a wonderful performer. Hers was a truly treasured voice in Irish music that carried emotion, history and passion. I send my deepest sympathy to her son and daughter, her brother Seán, and her extended family.

I offer congratulations to Jessie Buckley for becoming the first Irishwoman to win the best actress award at the Oscars. Her talent, dedication and commitment have earned this well-deserved recognition.

Speaking of Hollywood and films, my own hometown of Rathangan is host to a film, "Walk the Blue Fields". Starting today and for the next three days, there is a full film crew in the area. A lot of landscaping and painting has gone on over the past two weeks. It will be wonderful to see it all come to fruition tomorrow.

On that note, it is drama festival season. I attended the Kildare Drama Festival last week. The Rathangan Drama Festival will start on 20 March. It is wonderful to see plays from new scriptwriters and new playwrights, particularly Eugene O'Brien from neighbouring Edenderry.

He was here on a tour. I met him last Thursday. His plays Heaven and Eden were shown in Kildare and are due to be shown in Rathangan. I wish all those are involved - Noreen in Kildare and Mairéad and Connie in Rathangan - the best of luck in their festivals. A lot of effort goes on behind the scenes but it gives all of us the opportunity to see the very best of drama on stage in our home towns.