Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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I have a couple of questions for our guests. This issue regarding running in schools has been a particular bugbear of mine for years, and I have done some work on it. I am convinced that it is in place in more schools than are willing to admit the fact, for whatever reason. It seems crazy that schools would prevent children running but I have been told by a few parents recently that it is happening. The Department needs to issue a directive on this matter. This is about one of the risks in life. We cannot allow the insurance industry to hold us to ransom when it comes to children running in school. This is a matter I am passionate about and I hope that, following on from this meeting, our guests will do a little more work on it.

The policy on obesity was put in place in 2016. There was supposed to be an annual report on the policy but, to my knowledge, there has never been such a report. Perhaps our guests will explain why that is the case. We will have to be very patient in tackling the issue of obesity because it took a long time for the patterns and habits to be established in society. It will take time to make progress but it would be welcome if we could get some indication of the work that is being done and any progress being made. At this time of year, there is much talk about fiscal space. The fiscal space would be a lot larger for services and our citizens if we get on top of this issue. I am sure our guests are well aware of the huge health cost to the Exchequer resulting from people's lifestyles.

Reformulation was mentioned, which I find interesting. There is meaningful interaction with the food and drinks companies. Ms O'Flaherty spoke about the reduction in the amount of tax from the sugar tax because a lot of drinks companies are now putting less sugar in their drinks and thus removing them from the higher tax bracket. Reference was made to an evaluation framework. What is the timeframe for it? Again, I would not like it to be years before we know if it is having an impact. Deputy Mitchell referred to ring-fencing, which is an issue I have been hammering the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, on but I do not think he is for moving. There is a precedent for it in the context of the plastic bag levy. Even if we do not ring-fence it, there should be a commitment to that money being spent in this area.

Deputy Rabbitte referred to funding in respect of early childhood years. In general, I do not believe there is sufficient money being invested in tackling obesity. It is an issue of monumental proportion and I do not think society has fully come up to speed with how serious it is in terms of the future generations and the possibility of a first generation of parents who will outlive their children.

On weighing children, I acknowledge that general practitioners are weighing them or, at least, that they are supposed to do so. As a society, we need to grow up when it comes to this issue. There is something in what is being said, including here, about skirting around the issue. I understand that it is a delicate matter, particularly as I have lived it. I know that we need to be careful with children but if we are a little bit more mature in how as a society we approach it from a very early age we will make progress. I do not subscribe to much of Dr. Eva Orsmond says or the way she goes about saying it because it can be very cutting. It is not necessarily how I would wish to communicate with people but the core point is that in other countries they approach this in a more grown up way. The Irish approach appears to be focused on not saying that people are failing as parents. We appear to be unable to address the issue in a more head-on type fashion. I know it is a delicate balancing act. I would welcome our guests' observations.