I extend a warm welcome to the Slovenian ambassador. A new friendship group between Slovenia and Ireland was set up this term. It is great to have the ambassador visiting the House.

The Order of Business is expressions of sympathy on the death of former Senator Mary Jackman, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and to conclude at 1.45 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 1, Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 2 p.m.; No. 2, Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 - Second Stage, resumed, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1 and to adjourn at 5 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 131, motion 9, Private Members' business, regarding youth mental health and guidance services in secondary schools, to be taken at 5 p.m., with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours; and No. 3, Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022 - Report and Final Stages, resumed, to be taken at 7 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 131, motion 9, whichever is the later, and to adjourn at 9 p.m., if not previously concluded.

I, too, welcome the Slovenian ambassador. I wish him every success and enjoyment on Slovenia's national day. I commend him on deciding to march in Dublin Pride. That is wonderful.

At 5 a.m. this morning, I dipped at dawn at Lahinch beach. I did so in solidarity with people who suffer sight loss. Many Senators will be aware that today is the longest and brightest day of the year. It is the summer solstice; a day of positivity, energy and hope. It is a day of encouragement but also of ambition.

Unfortunately, 18 people will today begin experiencing deteriorating vision. Of them, 80% are losing their sight unnecessarily because they are not being properly screened and are not being engaged with or getting interventions in a timely manner. I would like the House to have a debate, perhaps in autumn at this stage, on eye care, the waiting list situation and investment in eye care. There is no doubt that we have some of the best and most successful ophthalmologists in the world operating in this country but, sadly, the public waiting lists are much too long, which is totally unacceptable. We have the expertise but not everybody has access to it. What I did this morning was a swim for hope, to give people solace and let them know there is a bright future. A diagnosis of sight loss can be devastating. For some people, it can be very impactful and result in full loss of sight but there is a bright future. Never before has there been so much assistive technology or so many educational and employment opportunities. My message to people who have received a recent diagnosis of sight loss is to reach out. The supports and services are there and it can be made to happen. I think of a lady from County Sligo whom I met at Heuston Station three weeks ago. Her child had a tumour and, sadly, will not be able to see for the rest of their life. That woman approached me and we had a discussion. I think of older people who have cataracts and are awaiting treatment. They are upset and frustrated because they can no longer do simple things like driving a car or reading a newspaper. My message to all those people is that in spite of the challenges and difficulties, there is hope. On the longest day of the year, I end on a note of hope and positivity.

I thank the Senator and welcome his good wife, Breege, to the Public Gallery. She is a most welcome guest to Leinster House. I thank her for putting up with the Senator. On a more serious note, for Members who have not seen Senator Conway's social media posts this morning, the video of him and a group of approximately 40 people in Lahinch is an extraordinary tale, as were his remarks just now. Like so many others, he does not let disability define him. He is a champion. I congratulate and thank him for his contribution at 5 a.m. today. He was braver than many of us would have been at that hour.

The Slovenian ambassador has left the Chamber but I wish him and his people well. I endorse everything the Cathaoirleach said in that regard.

I acknowledge and admire the contribution of Senator Conway. It is nice to see Breege here with him today. I did not go for a dip at dawn like Senator Conway, but well done. As the Cathaoirleach said in the context of his disability, he is such an advocate. He is always appearing on radio stations and doing things to encourage people who have sight issues. He is always fighting the cause and the case.

We all admire that, in fairness. Well done to the Senator.

I return to an issue I have raised on numerous occasions in this House, namely, the way we treat our front-line workers. As I said before, we have debates when something happens or somebody is assaulted and then we move away from the issue. We need to turn back the clock. In the past, there was far better respect for front-line workers. Deputy Alan Farrell recently received figures - I found them shocking - which indicated that 2,080 gardaí have been assaulted while on duty in the past seven years. I understand that in the region of 160 or 170 officers have already been assaulted this year. That is simply not good enough. In the past, I have called for the Minister for Justice to come to the House for a debate on this issue, which, I believe, everybody will support. Such a debate would allow us to call for absolute respect for all our front-line workers, whether they are gardaí, members of the Defence Forces, firefighters, hospital staff or teachers. As Oireachtas Members, we need to make that call. We need to get very serious about this.

Unfortunately, a sizeable minority of people have a tendency to say "Ah well, maybe they have put in for it". What an appalling thing to say when people are on the front line and trying to help others. I am aware that some people's patience may wear thin at times. They may lose their patience, and I am sure they regret it if they do, but it annoys me when quite a number of people can say now that "Maybe that girl put in for it", or "Maybe that nurse or that firefighter put in for that". We cannot have this. As legislators and as Oireachtas Members, we have to be absolutely definite about this. We must carry this debate forward and both ask and tell people to have full respect for all of our front-line workers. The figures for assaults on members of An Garda Síochána are very disturbing. I hope that Senators on sides will back me in calling for a debate solely on this issue

I thank the Senator. I welcome the pupils and teachers from St. Patrick's Loreto Primary School in Bray, County Wicklow. The sixth-class students are with us today. They are in their final stretch in primary school. Congratulations to them on their elevation to the next level. As a token of our appreciation, perhaps the teachers will give them homework off for the rest of the week to say thank you. Enjoy your visit, and thank you for being here.

We have had Senator Conway, who is a champion of disability. We now have another champion of disability, Senator Clonan.