Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy expanded on his question to cover a number of areas. From his side of the fence, our reception to the idea of the provision of such screening programmes might appear lukewarm, but we are serious about the policies we are implementing.

Some people have been critical of the Government for not dealing with the issue of obesity in the past, but last week it put its money where its mouth is. A sum of €3 million was provided in the Estimates to roll out our fight against the problem of obesity next year, an issue on which we have been working.

We will examine the provision of the screening programme to which the Deputy referred, if we consider it would be of benefit. I am not sure it would be, and I would not like to comment on it other than to say I will have the Deputy's suggestion examined and report back to him on it.

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