Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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People probably know my position on this particular issue so I do not need any more than five minutes. I thank Mr. White and Mr. Mullaniff for the powerful opening statements. I am sure there are many more than 40 reasons this committee should care about the nearly 400,000 people in this country who suffer some form of sight loss. The last census proved that our population is ageing. With an ageing population, one of the faculties that deteriorates, unfortunately, is eyesight. Use of computer screens, etc., has an effect. The witnesses might talk to us about the type of eyesight challenges presenting in more recent times.

Two issues worry me. The first is that 80% of sight loss is preventable with early detection. In my case, it was not preventable. I was born with what I have, which is less than 20% eye sight. I have to live with that and I try to do so every day to the best of my ability, but what I am determined to do through my role as a Member of the Oireachtas is to create an environment where preventable blindness is prevented. In terms of a national strategy, how would the witnesses see that building up? How would it be designed to eliminate as best as we possibly can preventable blindness?

The other issue that concerns me greatly is the fact that over 80% of people who are diagnosed with vision impairment, in particular young people, college students and people in their 20s and 30s, are dependent on welfare and are not fully employed in our society. It is certainly way above the European average, which is much more favourable than what it is in Ireland. In terms of a vision strategy, how would the witnesses see it eliminating preventable blindness and in terms of employment, at least getting to, if not ahead of, the European average?