Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like everybody in the House, I, too, wish to pass on my sincere congratulations to our former colleague, Deputy Bacik, with whom I have worked for more than ten years as a Member of this House, a member of the justice committee and as spokesperson on justice up until last year. She will be a huge asset to the Lower House but absolutely will be a loss to this House. Her contribution to politics will continue, however.

This is the final Order of Business on which we will speak before the summer recess. I will take this opportunity to thank the staff of the House, Mr. Martin Groves, Ms Bridget Doody and all the team for their courtesy. I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Leader and wish them a very enjoyable summer. It is a well-earned break. As a result of Covid-19, we have obviously been working unusual patterns, to say the least.

Speaking of the summer, one issue I raised previously in this House and wish to raise again is that of water safety at secondary level. We have seen an increased numbers of people swimming in the sea. As we all know, swimming in the sea is completely different to swimming in a pool because of the cold temperatures, different wave currents and challenges the sea brings. Water safety training should be compulsory at secondary level. A verifiable water safety module is needed in which every young person should engage and get a certificate and acknowledgement. Sea currents and the dangers of swimming in the sea are very much apparent and well-documented. I offer my sympathies to the young man in County Clare who lost his life last week. He was a qualified lifeguard, which just shows us the challenges the sea presents. I, therefore, ask for a debate in the autumn on water safety at secondary level and built into that needs to be a respect for lifeguards and the instructions they dispatch. Too often, we see those instructions are ignored. It is, therefore, something we can and should work on. I look forward to that debate in the autumn.