Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. I join the Chairman and members in welcoming our guests. This is a very important issue. It has often been said that when we have healthy children, we have a healthy society, and I go a long way in agreeing with that. I have a great interest in this subject because my background is in the area of fitness and sport and my specialist qualification is in the area of child and teenage fitness, not only physical fitness but fitness of body and mind.

I am sure the witnesses would agree it is important to get the balance right between having a healthy diet and, on the output side, more regular exercise, an area in which I have great interest. I notice that, increasingly, more local authorities, including my own, about which I am delighted, are rolling out the provision of more equipment in our parks which is free for people to use.

I was interested in what Mr. Duffy said about the sugar-free school project. I would keen to find out more about it in terms of the research he has done on it throughout Europe. I suggest that time might be provided to discuss that issue alone. The idea is one I am sure we as legislators would be pleased to take on board and we could examine how the committee and the Dáil could promote it in the community. I would be interested in exchanging details with Mr. Duffy in order that we could interact on that issue.