Mr. Chris Macey:

In the document we produced on primary prevention, diet is the single biggest factor in preventable chronic disease. It is about looking at what we can do about that and what we can do about smoking, obviously, as well. As I said, we very much welcome the consultation on vaping and smoking that has been called by the Department and the Minister, but we need the action to be a lot quicker than it has been. We have not been acting quickly enough in that area. In terms of diet generally, there could be measures such as mandatory programmes on salt reduction. The Commission on Taxation and Welfare has proposed a tax on ultra-processed food.

Some 46% of the Irish shopping basket is ultra-processed food. That is having a substantial impact on health and it will accelerate in the years ahead unless we do something about it.