Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tacaím le cuid mhaith den mhéid a bhí á rá ag an Seanadóir Ó Murchú maidir le Sráid Uí Mhórdha. What is important on the issue of Moore Street is that the Minister, as indicated yesterday, meet with the 1916 relatives' group as soon as possible to discuss the development of the site in an appropriate manner. It will also bring to the attention of the Minister that there is another ionad in Connemara, Teach an Phiarsaigh, in Rosmuc, that has plans for an interpretive centre. The Government indicated it would develop it but at present it is quite unsure what will happen. I hope it will be followed up with as much vigour.

On the issue of the Magdalen laundries, it is important the Minister clarify what the Government will do to ensure the women who have suffered in the laundries get redress. I appreciate the disappointment of the Minister on the announcement yesterday but the issue is that institutions must be held to account. The Taoiseach made a well-received apology, which was right, but the women of the Magdalen laundries deserve redress, as do people from Bethany Home and those who suffered from symphysiotomy procedures.

I congratulate Senator Martin Conway, who chaired a very important presentation in the AV room on the strategic framework for vision health. This showed we are heading into a major dilemma as regards the number of people who will need support because of failing vision. I refer to the cost that may be incurred by the State and how that may be alleviated, with lives made much better, by implementing a strategy sooner rather than later. I call for debate in the early autumn on the area of the strategic framework for vision health, which would save the State money and do a lot of good for people who have visual impairment.