Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask a follow-up question. The committee members were provided with a policy advice note that was prepared for the committee. As part of the background information, we were told that studies conducted around the globe have found that schoolbags should weigh no more than 10% to 15% of a child's body weight. International studies advise that there should be a weight restriction on schoolbags, which goes against what the witnesses have told us today. Also a working group that was established here in 1997 recommended that students should not carry in excess of 10% of their body weight. Our study that was published 20 years ago recommended a weight restriction on schoolbags.

No disrespect is intended but I find this conversation quite frustrating because we are saying that things are not okay, that the weight of the schoolbags is too heavy but I am still no better informed as to what the witnesses want us to do. What are they recommending? What do they want us to do? If they do not want legislation to be introduced and they do not want weight restrictions to apply to schoolbags but they are concerned about the cost of backpacks and additional books for parents, I do not know what we are supposed to do after this meeting to advance the issue. I would say to Mr. Beddy that suggesting that we should threaten legislation but that we would have no intention of legislating is a very bad road to go down because it undermines the credibility of the work we are trying to do. What do the witnesses want us to do and how do they want us to do it?