Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ministers have been brought before the Seanad and there have been questions on issues relating, for example, to the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities which, despite being in office for two and a half years, the Government has not ratified. Using people with disabilities in this way belittles them. I sincerely hope what was said this morning does not reflect what will become the tenor of the referendum campaign. If it does, that will be very regrettable.

Unfortunately, many tragedies have taken place during the past week as a result of the fine weather. It is critically important that compulsory water safety classes take place in primary and secondary schools in order to at least raise awareness among young people of the dangers of being in or on the water. We do not enjoy too many spells of fine weather such as the one we have experienced in the past couple of weeks. We must be prepared for future spells of such weather. In that context, we should encourage schools on a voluntary basis initially to offer more water safety training and encourage water safety awareness among pupils. I hope that in the coming years it might be possible to establish a statutory water safety programme with primary and secondary schools. We must educate young people for life rather than just to obtain a certain amount of points in their State examinations. In this way we will ensure lives will be saved.