Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. He is always very welcome. I thank Senator Conway who has done much work in relation to this matter. I also know of Senator Conway's work with the National Council for the Blind Ireland and other organisations for the visually impaired. I want to start on a positive note. When I was preparing a few notes earlier today, I made contact with the National Treatment Purchase Fund. I was a director of the National Treatment Purchase Fund for two terms, so I understand how it manages its lists and how it prioritises its work and the difficulties around all those issues. I also contacted the National Council for the Blind Ireland and the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, of which I was a director for more than 20 years. I am very familiar with this particular niche area of disability. I did not want to come in here and empty out a wheelbarrow of statistics and be critical, because we are where we are. Let us put this in context.

This Government is in power for well over three years. This is not new. Senator Conway articulated very well the issues. As a member of the Government party, he shared with us the fact that there are 43,000 patients on our outpatient list. He then went on to tell the Seanad that there are more than 7,000 children on our waiting lists. That is a travesty and a disgrace. That is something that no Government and no politician can be proud of. It is exceptionally disappointing.

I acknowledge the glossy material on eye clinic liaison officer services, which was sent to a number of colleagues and which I received a few copies of. It is excellent. I am not here to knock Senator Conway, and I think it is good we are speaking about this today, but this has gone for years and it is unacceptable.

I am going to focus on the visually impaired area, because it is one I have a particular grá for and an interest in. The Government and the Senator did not have to bring forward this motion, although it is their prerogative. They could have talked to the Minister about it. However, it gives us an opportunity to talk about the issue.