Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses from the National Vision Coalition for coming before us.

I welcome the four people in front of me and all the people in our audience. The coalition represents 220,000 people who have impaired vision or are blind. I have met representatives of the group on a number of occasions. I know I have told them they are too nice. They have spoken about how their cost-effective plans will save the Government money. I would prefer if they focused on the eight principles they want put in place. What progress has been made since the Government signed up to the WHO's Vision 2020 strategy in 2003? In that context, perhaps they can tell us what they want to achieve before 2020. How can we put it in place? I agree with Mr. Kenny that when the members of the delegation walk out of here, it is not good enough for us to sympathise with them and the 220,000 people they represent. I want to see a plan of action that we can take on board. We can try to ensure it forms part of the strategy and budget of the Department of Health. If it is not part of the Department's budget, we are all wasting our time here. I ask the witnesses to outline exactly what they want.

Some of those listening in will be aware that my brother is blind. He would tell me that he feels invisible and unrepresented in society. Does Mr. Kenny agree with him that there is a prejudice against people who are visually impaired or blind? What can be done? I want to send a message to medical health people. When my brother and I attend various consultants, he is quite often ignored even though he is the patient. The consultants choose to speak to me and expect me to answer the questions as if he was not there. I also have some concerns about general practitioners in this regard. I do not refer to Mr. Keegan, about whom I heard some good things during the week. He saved someone's life. Are consultants in general, including diabetic consultants, and GPs trained in how to deal with the sensitivities of patients who are visually impaired or blind? The witnesses suggested that the public is not aware of such sensitivities. I have seen medical health professionals treating blind people in a way that is not sensitive. Before the witnesses leave this meeting, I want them to give the members of the committee a list of exactly what they want us to do so that we are clear on exactly what to ask for when the Minister and officials from the HSE and the Department of Health come in here. I am not asking about money that can be saved. I am asking about what the coalition needs to prevent 220,000 people from going blind. Can Mr. Keegan explain to the public what it should be doing? Should people who are worried about diabetic retinopathy, cataracts or age related macular degeneration go to their ordinary GPs in the first instance?