Eamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too welcome Senator Naughton to the House. There have been many heated debates for several weeks.

At the same time we have been enjoying a spell of fine hot weather, with the country basking in Mediterranean temperatures between 20° and 30° Celsius. Similarly high temperatures are expected in the coming weeks. This type of heat brings with it water shortages and appeals to the public to be more conservative in their usage of that resource. The warm weather also brings certain dangers. Tragically, 11 people have lost their lives by drowning since the beginning of the hot spell. That is 11 families who have lost loved ones ranging in age from 16 to 65 years. Irish Water Safety has predicted additional deaths by drowning in the coming weeks, in quarries, lakes, rivers and open seas. I take this opportunity to offer to my condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in recent weeks.

The solution, unfortunately, is not to be found solely in teaching primary school children how to swim and partake in activities on the water safely. The answer is more to do with people's attitudes to the responsibilities that should be exercised by anybody partaking of our waterways. There must be a change in this regard. I was particularly saddened to learn that the 11th victim was Mr. Joe Grinsell from Tipperary, who drowned in a disused quarry this weekend. I was fortunate enough to be Carrick-on-Suir for the June bank holiday weekend where, together with Senator Denis Landy, I attended the Maurice Davin memorial service. During that weekend I came out of retirement to participate in a one-mile charity run in the course of which I fell into step with a young boy. As we approached the finish line, the boy was eager for us to overtake a gentleman in a tight green vest and shorts who was in front of us. I held back, however, and let the man cross the line ahead of us. When I saw the photograph of Mr. Grinsell in the newspaper today, I was very saddened to realise he was the gentleman who had crossed the line before me and my running companion. I will never forget him turning around to me at the end of the race and exclaiming that he could not wait to tell his family he had beaten a world champion. I appeal to the public to be more conscientious when using our waterways as we go on through the rest of the summer. I convey my condolences, once again, to the families who have lost loved ones.