Dr. Grace O'Malley:

Yes. They think that water is from the toilet. I have had children say that. Their understanding of water as a drink is not there.

The Government's approach to transport is important. Neighbourhoods could have walking school buses that facilitate walking to school. Online advertising is a major issue, and with the GDPR coming into force in May, the Government must be courageous on this front and protect people, particularly those under 18 years of age. As we discussed with Deputy Neville, planning is a further issue. We must ensure that we are not adding consistently to a food environment that encourages obesity.

When these legislative pieces are in place, industry will respond like it did with the sugar tax. There are many aspects of the food industry that are positive. For example, Ireland's fruit and vegetable growers are among the best in the world and there is a significant opportunity for them to tap into this market and encourage whole foods.

There is a large amount of data on what is the best approach to take initially. The Health Research Board-sponsored Centre for Health and Diet Research between UCC and UCD would be delighted to present its evidence to the committee, as would the Institute of Public Health in Ireland.