Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Having this conversation on obesity at this committee is a step in the right direction. Previous speakers set the stage. Those involved have set out what they need and what they want to move it forward. Sometimes at committee meetings I wonder what the witnesses want or need. I thank Dr. Murphy because she told us what she needs and wants to make it work. The evidence base has been done by Professor Kelleher. Anybody looking in this morning will see the facts are in front of us and this is how we can address it. This is so refreshing. We have been asked for treatment options, education, environmental planning, regulations around the environment, prevention and early intervention and ensuring funding around the clinical lead. The human stories have copper-fastened why we need to deal with this issue. The fact that 80,000 are in need of some form of clinical intervention or some kind of support is concerning. If we do not address it now, we will lose this completely. As legislators, we must put pressure on the Government to ensure this matter is dealt with as it has been discussed since 2005.

Sitting down is our new killer. A new road is being developed in Abbeyknockmoy, County Galway, which will have a walking track beside it. Can we not put in lights to allow people to walk this 5 km stretch in the evenings? That is forward thinking but the right way of thinking.

What data are gathered from a first-class child?