Dr. Pádraig McGarry:

The Senator hit the nail on the head. One of the biggest issues facing us all is the ever growing obesity problem. Education on diet, exercise and so forth should be provided from childhood onwards, starting in crèches and schools. This would make a major difference if implemented properly.

I have a model on my desk for nicotine replacement therapy. It is a cube which contains tar and when turned upside down, thick tar drips downwards. It shows the amount of tar deposited in one's lungs after smoking 20 cigarettes per day for two months. Every child who comes into my surgery is transfixed by it and they all find it disgusting. This model should be in every classroom in the country because it has a visual impact on children. We should create something similar for alcohol and diet to be shown to children at a very early age because they feed off teachers. If a child's teacher says something is right, he or she will think it must be right. Unfortunately, there is a major deficit in this area. This is one simple thing that would have an impact across the board. I know it would require an investment over years but it is one issue that would hit home. It is an example that stuck in my mind and one which could be done.