Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

The Department of Agriculture and Food made a comprehensive submission to the National Task Force on Obesity setting out in detail its mission, role and responsibilities, which are "to lead the sustainable development of a competitive, consumer focused agri-food sector and to contribute to a vibrant rural economy and society". The Department participated in a consultation day that was organised by the task force and responded to specific requests from the task force. In the event, the task force's report directed two of its 93 recommendations to the Department. The first such recommendation was that the Department of Agriculture and Food together with the Department of Health and Children should promote the implementation of evidence-based healthy eating intervention. The second recommendation was that the Department of Agriculture and Food should review policies in partnership with other Departments to promote access to healthy food and that such policies should encompass positive discrimination in the provision of grants and funding to local industry in favour of healthy products.

The Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland funded a scientific study on children's diet, which was the first study to benchmark the dietary intakes of a nationally representative sample of Irish children. The work was carried out by researchers from Trinity College and University College Cork in 2003 and 2004. They surveyed 600 children between the ages of five and 12 from primary schools throughout Ireland. The researchers collected information on each child relating to their diets, levels of physical activity and body measurements, as well as to the lifestyles of the children and their parents. The study is the first comprehensive scientific evaluation of the dietary intake of children in Ireland. It provides direction for the dietary strategies that need to be established to prevent obesity. The scientific study identified that the levels of consumption of milk, fresh meat and fruit and vegetables among the young are inadequate. The Minister, Deputy Coughlan, launched a new school milk scheme last August in response to the study and the recommendation of the obesity task force. The revamped scheme offers a broader range of milk products, including flavoured milk, low-fat and fortified options. The packaging of the products has also been improved. The new scheme will encourage increased milk consumption among schoolchildren.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is working with the European Commission and Wholesale Produce Ireland to fund a pilot health food initiative, known as the "food dude" programme, to encourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables by children in primary schools. The programme, which is managed by Bord Bia, is in its second year of operation. When it has been completed, it will have been introduced to 120 primary schools. The programme, which was developed by the University of Wales, Bangor, is based on positive role models, repeated tasting and rewards. Studies show it can deliver long-lasting results across the primary age range, regardless of gender, school size, geographic and socio-economic factors. The programme, which lasts three years, is designed to help children to enjoy a healthy diet and to create a healthy eating culture within schools. The results of the first year of the programme have been very encouraging. The activity has been very well received by pupils, parent and teachers.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The Irish "food dude" project, which is highly regarded, won the World Health Organisation's counteracting obesity award for 2006 at last week's WHO Istanbul European ministerial conference on counteracting obesity. The initiative was praised by Commissioner Kyprianou as "an innovative approach to promoting a healthy and balanced diet among children". The three-year programme was singled out for its success in promoting "fruit and vegetable consumption in a way that changes children's behaviour for the better on a permanent basis while ensuring the availability of the promoted product". I have been impressed with the positive response to the programme and decided that it would be beneficial to run it on a larger scale. I have secured some €4 million in the Estimates for the programme to be run with national funding in more primary schools next year. Subject to ongoing evaluation, I intend to extend the programme to more schools in later years.

My Department's mission is "to lead the sustainable development of a competitive, consumer focused agri-food sector and to contribute to a vibrant rural economy and society". The agri-vision plan of action reinforces this mission and sets out key deliverables focusing on three axes for success in the food industry — competitiveness, innovation and consumer-focused marketing. In the current era of decoupling production from support, the agri-food sector must look to the market potential of products and consumer demands, including the emerging health agenda. Tackling obesity is a multidimensional issue that involves the whole spectrum of policy makers and health providers, together with public opinion on addressing the need for lifestyle balance.

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