Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

May I add to that question because it is appropriate to mention the sugar tax, which had a profound effect even before it was introduced, in convincing the soft drink producers, in particular, to take the sugar out of the product. I can think of some orange and cola drinks in particular. They do not sell the sugar sweetened drink in Ireland any more. They might have stock left but they are not importing or manufacturing it. It had a very significant effect, never mind the secondary effect that it is a taxation measure that raises money to invest into other areas within healthy eating programmes.

As for what Deputy Mitchell said about packaging, is there a key to doing something about it? We have done a lot in this State in terms of having been the first to introduce certain environmental measures.