Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery for their patience. I apologise for the delay in starting this session, but as I said earlier this is the second part of the meeting, and we did not know how to gauge the time allocation. We have received apologies from Deputies Regina Doherty, Peter Fitzpatrick and Billy Kelleher. Senator Imelda Henry is being replaced by Senator Martin Conway. I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery that all mobiles telephones should be switched off for the duration of this meeting because they interfere with the broadcasting of proceedings even when in silent mode.
This session of the committee meeting has been convened at the request of Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor to discuss the costs and other issues around blindness in Ireland. I welcome members of the National Vision Coalition, an alliance of health care professionals, those working with the sight loss community and service users who are doing outstanding work. I congratulate them on the recently published study Economic Cost and Burden of Eye Diseases and Preventable Blindness in Ireland. Members will have an opportunity to discuss the work of the National Vision Coalition and to consider the cost to the State of vision impairment and the saving that could be made from early intervention. Senator Conway has been a very good advocate for the sight loss community and has been a tremendous role model in the Houses of the Oireachtas.
I welcome those in the Visitors Gallery. They are Ms Siobhan Kelly, CEO and Ms Ciara Keenan, communications managers of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists; Mr. Padraig Mallon, CEO of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and a good friend of mine inCork; and Mr. Gerry Kerr, Service User Representative, who is here with his dog, Orva. I thank them for being present. I welcome our witnesses, Ms Maria Meehan, Mr. David Keegan, Mr. Desmond Kenny and Ms Elaine Howley.
I advise that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if a witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in regard to a particular matter and continues to do so, the witness is entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of his or her evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
I apologise to members for the croakiness of my voice but I have a chest infection.

That is why I am half-hoarse.

I formally welcome to the Public Gallery, Ms Siobhan Kelly, chief executive officer, and Ms Ciara Keenan, communications manager of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists, Ms Elaine Howley, chief executive officer of NCBI Services, and Mr. Padraig Mallon, chief executive officer of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Mr. Gerry Kerr is attending in his capacity of service user representative with his dog, Orva, and I welcome both of them to the meeting. It is good to have Orva in attendance and hopefully Orva will keep an eye on and mind members. Many witnesses appear before the joint committee and it is good to have a dog attend a meeting for the first time. I also welcome Ms Irene Reid, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Mr. David Green and Ms Doreen Curran and Dr. Eva Lindgren from Novartis, Mr. Paul Moriarty, national clinical lead of the national clinical programme and Mr. James Dunny, National Vision Coalition.

I invite Dr. Maria Meehan to make her opening statement.