Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I thank Ms Martin for that. It would be helpful if she did. It would be helpful to members of local authorities to have some professional guidance in that area in addition to that which is provided during a development plan or local area plans.

I referred earlier to the cure, such as providing facilities for children and young adults, and, indeed, parents, to exercise on their doorstep, and the prevention, in terms of the building of a fast food restaurant, takeaway or whatever the definition might be within the vicinity of a school.

Alternatively, one might not prevent the development of such a facility but, rather, limit the opening hours so that it is not open during lunch time, particularly where children are permitted to leave the grounds of a school for lunch.

I would advocate banning or preventing new fast food restaurants from being opened in the vicinity of schools. Given the evidence presented to this committee this morning, it would be very difficult to retrospectively close these facilities. Further, we do not want to give the general public the impression that a no-fry zone, as conceived in County Wexford and spread throughout the country, means that there will be no fast food restaurants near schools. Often it is the case that when a local authority or national body mentions a no-fry zone, it gives a false impression. What we are trying to achieve is a healthier environment for children and young adults.

I thank the witnesses for their attending, for their contributions and for dealing with our questions and observations so comprehensively.