the ongoing work on the key role biodiversity plays in our economy is important in this regard. but we also need to realise that the status quo is not sustainable – and so big changes are required to our economy and our lives. st. brigid as a symbol for renewal of the land can again be an inspiration for us here. conclusion to conclude, it is more than 1, 500 years since brigid founded and headed a double monastery for men and women ; but it is little over a 100 years since women in ireland have had the equal right to vote. in the intervening years, progress on equality was not linear, and it was not smooth. but then when i think about this progress, the words of eavan boland spring to mind, in her poem " our future will become the past of other women ". 4 / 6 bis - central bankers'speeches boland writes of the suffragettes, and how " in the shadow of their past, they vote [ d ] in the light of what will be ", aptly capturing in this instance the torch of progress, being passed – being shone. and thinking of brigid's legacy, i wonder if she ever thought that that future she forged would become the past of other women, just like the suffragettes, just like the women who are breaking through the ceilings of today. as we think of the torch of progress, it is apt that brigid is represented on our coin today holding a torch – a flame. st. brigid's flame burns in this very building – as a beacon of hope, justice and peace for the world. given all of the challenges which we face, it is a symbol which is still very much needed today. finally, before i finish, i want to thank some of the people who've helped to organise this afternoon's event. i want to recognise the central bank's currency centre team for the fantastic work they do each year on the collector coin series ; our team that produced the coin and mary gregoriy for her beautiful design. i would like to acknowledge the ongoing work of the numismatic advisory panel who support the bank's collector coin programme. and finally, on behalf of the central bank, i'd like to again thank everybody here at the solas bhride centre for your hospitality and for hosting us today. it is a great honour to be with you all to celebrate this special occasion in kildare. go raibh mile maith agaibh

go leir. i might now ask sister rita to come back up as i would like to present her with one of the coins on behalf of the solas bhride centre. 1 see the u. s. national archives and records administration, further information here. 2 the participation rate is the number of persons in the labour force expressed as a percentage of the total population aged 15 or over. the labour force comprises persons in employment and unemployed persons. further information from the central statistics office available 3 labour force survey quarter 1 2024 https : / / www. cso. ie / en / releasesandpublications / ep / p - lfs / labourforcesurveyquarter12024 / labourforce / 4 labour force survey quarter 1 2024 https : / / www. cso. ie / en / releasesandpublications / ep / p - lfs / labourforcesurveyquarter12024 / labourforce / 5 eurostat data https : / / ec. europa. eu / eurostat / databrowser / product / page / lfsq _ argan 6 see bercholz, m. and fitzgerald, j., 2016. recent trends in female labour force participation in ireland. quarterly economic commentary autumn 2016. also see 5 / 6 bis - central bankers'speeches byrne, s. and o'brien, m. d., 2017. understanding irish labour force participation. the economic and social review, 48 ( 1, spring ), pp. 27 - 60. 7 see sharon donnery " maintaining stability in the face of volatility – financial regulation in a rapidly changing world " november 2023 8 see remarks by president mcaleese st. brigid's day lecture, belfast'ireland's role in the world'february 2007 9 see vasileios madouros " the evolving payment landscape in ireland " 6 / 6 march 2024 bis - central bankers'speeches