Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join the Chairman in welcoming the witnesses and all of those who have accompanied them, and I thank each of them for their respective contributions. I will try to elaborate on some of the points raised. It is encourageing, and I wish it were replicated across other areas, that the National Vision Coalition is an alliance of service users and those who work in the sight loss community. That is not always the story when people present to this committee. I commend everybody on that approach, which is a template that could and should be replicated in many other areas.
The statistics are cause for concern, with one in 20 people in Ireland affected by one or other of the four main eye diseases. It is a huge number and it increases according to the age profile of the community. I ask for clarification on the issue of diabetic retinopathy. Where it is appropriate for people who are diagnosed with diabetes to present for eye screening, does it apply to type 1 and 2 or is it particular to type 1, which is the more severe form of diabetes? For the significant body people with type 2 diabetes, monitoring and diet are the key issues. Type 1 is another story entirely. I understand that the management of type 2 diabetes does not advise particular observation of sight and other matters pertaining to diabetes in terms of limb and foot health which present in type 1.
I take it that the witnesses have a plan for developing a national vision strategy and that it is not just an idea, although they have not yet committed to paper a comprehensive strategy. Is it a document at this point in time? They indicate that a number of goals can be achieved through a national vision strategy but there was a suggestion that such a strategy was already to hand and could be presented. I ask them to clarify that issue.
In regard to what they are asking from us, after clarifying my question on the current status on a national vision strategy, we can use our individual and collective weight as Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to press for its adoption by the Government so that it has the imprimaturand status it needs. I can only speak on my own behalf but I have no doubt that I would be reflecting the views of all the members of this committee in saying I would be delighted to play my part in achieving what the witnesses have asked from us. This is all the more reason for expressing gratitude to them for appearing before us, and to our colleague, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, for making the case for inviting them. We are only as good as the information that is shared with us.
In regard to Mr. Kenny's comments on a joined-up strategy, I have argued with my colleagues in Government that we do not have joined-up government. Many Departments operate in silos. That is part of the deficiency of government. It is not a reflection on the current occupants of the posts; it is just a fact of life. I expect that the strategy goes beyond the Department of Health to cross Departments in its construction and approach. Even as a layperson in this regard, I see the sense of that in respect of the areas which the witnesses seek to address.
Mr. Kenny concluded on the interesting point of not requiring people to reach into services unnecessarily. I had to think about the way that was phrased but he was telling us that blindness is avoidable. It is not that people are coming to pilfer but that such a scenario can be avoided by early intervention. That is the critical message the witnesses are delivering. I hope I have not laboured them with too many questions. I thank them again for their contributions and assure them that, in my role as Opposition spokesperson on health and a proud member of this committee, I will work with colleagues of all opinions to support the case they have made.