Ms Joana Caldeira Fernandes da Silva:

I will give examples form other countries around Europe. My colleague, Dr. McGloin, mentioned the all-systems approach and all the work that has been done in Amsterdam in areas of high deprivation where there is systems thinking. Many organisations are building capacity and utilising the structures in their local areas to work together to align different programmes that will improve the availability of healthier foods and education and will bring all the systems together. London, for example, successfully progressed the restriction of the marketing of unhealthy foods on public transport. Everyone can think about coming down the escalators to catch a tube train. We used to be surrounded by advertisements for unhealthy food there but that is now gone from public transport in London.

In Portugal, there are strict restrictions on the marketing, including digital marketing, of unhealthy foods to children. New legislation relating to supermarkets was introduced in England. In respect of product placement, unhealthy foods cannot be placed in certain locations. There are also restrictions on price promotions. Two-for-the-price-of-three deals are restricted. I mean three-for-the-price-of-two. Perhaps there should be two-for-the-price-of-three deals for unhealthy foods. The three-for-the-price-of-two deals are no longer possible for certain types of food.

Those are good examples. I would also like to make reference to the good work we have done in Ireland recently. We are an example of the provision of meals to children in DEIS schools and that programme is going to be expanded. The Department of children recently published standards that will regulate provision in the early learning and care settings, and the community work has been growing. That aligns with the Sláintecare health communities. We made reference earlier to the food and nutrition workers but there is more work ongoing. There is social prescribing, the healthy food made easy campaign and smoking cessation and mental health campaigns. It is about taking an holistic approach to health. That is touching on healthy behaviours that relate to food and will reduce our rates of childhood obesity.