Dr. Donal O'Shea:

I wish to make a couple of points. In reply to Deputy Colreavy's question, the pricing measures for obesity are not about income generation but rather about behavioural change. There is talk about stealth tax. I understand that the income to be raised from any such taxes would be modest. We must look to behavioural change which is how patterns of consumption are changed. I acknowledge the argument that these measures are economically regressive and will affect poorer people more. In terms of health, I would consider these measures to be progressive. I refer to the concept that only 2% of energy comes from sugar-sweetened drinks. This figure is 20% for those who consume those drinks. A small number may consume these drinks but 20% of their energy intake comes from those drinks. Therefore, the tax only affects those who consume and it will hit them more. They are also in the lower socio-economic group so it is financially regressive in that sense, but their health gain is magnified, so it is progressive in health terms. The committee members are the legislators and they must decide. It is about behavioural change and progress in health terms. We then must examine the knock-on impact and how we make up the difference to those who are more affected.

I liked Senator van Turnhout's comment on the red herring which introduced fish into the cheese debate. There should be no more mention of cheese. It is on the third shelf of the food pyramid and it is nutritious. We are talking about the top shelf of the food pyramid and cheese should be out of the argument.

Deputy Fitzpatrick asked how to help the constituent who is clearly in trouble and whose children are also physically struggling but on a smaller scale. That demands the kind of measures that have been discussed and it demands partnership and knocking our heads together. It also demands treatment. I would love to see Senator Crown stand over a prevention of cancer programme that involves no treatment. At the moment that is what we have in Ireland. We are talking about prevention but Deputy Fitzpatrick and others can offer practically nothing to the constituent who walks in the door. That situation has to change. One of the recommendations I would love to see as a result of today's meeting would be that prevention is the way forward but we must be able to treat our obese kids and adults and that is not happening at the moment.