Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming here today. When I was canvassing during the general election campaign 19 months ago I could not help but notice the number of people who were overweight or obese. I said to myself at the time that if I could do something to help such people, I would. The problem is alarming.

I congratulate the Minister for setting up the special action group and some of the solutions put forward are excellent. However, since I have entered politics I have heard a lot of talking but have seen very little action. We could talk about this morning, noon and night. I can go into the Chamber and listen, for four or five hours, to all the solutions in the world but there is no action. There are a lot of clever individuals here today and we should all try to work together. I am just an ordinary Joe Soap but I am willing to help. I attended the local Novena this morning in Dundalk and the priest said that while Ireland may not have any money, 60% of our population is involved in voluntary work, which is wonderful. Let us all work together on this.

People do not understand how bad obesity is. Many people come to my clinic looking for help. I would be keen to give them help, but those best placed to provide help are across the table from me now. They are the experts. This is the first time I have seen the healthy eating and active living brochure. There is a referendum coming up and we will be sending information about it to every household in the country. This is more important than any referendum. We are investing money. Reference was made to taxes and so on but why not send one of these leaflets to every household in Ireland? Let us make a start somewhere. The only thing I ask for today is instead of talking, let us take some action.