Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Reilly indicated the obesity task force report featured 128 recommendations. The report made 93 recommendations, most of which have been acted upon by the Department of Health and Children or Health Service Executive. For example, we established an action plan for implementation across various Departments and agencies, including the Irish Heart Foundation.

Deputy Reilly is concerned about the number of obese children. In January this year, I established an intersectoral group comprising representatives of all stakeholders, including experts from Departments and agencies, the food industry and relevant NGOs to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the task force on obesity and to address general lifestyle issues impacting on chronic diseases. The group has met monthly since its establishment and a third meeting will be held in March. I expect it to issue its first progress report by Easter, which is a short timeframe. In recent weeks, we have already found that a substantial number of the recommendations have been implemented. Once the first progress report has been produced, we will consider the idea of a road map. If, following the implementation of many of the recommendations, the problem of obesity persists, we will have to look beyond the task force report.

First, however, we need to establish where we are with the 93 recommendations, and we hope to have that done by Easter. Deputy Deenihan raised the related and important issue of physical activity. The national physical activity guidelines are nearly completed and we expect to launch them shortly. If we look in detail at the 93 recommendations, it is interesting to see there is a great deal happening across Government Departments. Members mentioned earlier some other areas such as the food industry. There is no doubt, as has been said in the debate today, that the impact of overweight and obesity on diabetes and other issues is obvious to all. Therefore, we need to know exactly where we are with the task force report — which we will know by Easter — and where we are going with regard to making a real difference in this important area.

I support the various comments of Members, including Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, who said that this debate will be a positive measure in moving forward on the important issue of diabetes and the underlying issues of overweight and obesity. I know Deputy O'Sullivan welcomed the 2009 funding for the programme. I also emphasise, as did Deputy O'Shea, the whole issue of prevention and the concerns we have in that area.

Given the current financial constraints, I must acknowledge that there will be difficulties with the continued roll-out of the programme. However, I welcome the HSE commitment to the screening programme, and I know it is endeavouring to identify what can be done to extend the programme within the existing resources. Deputy Niall Blaney mentioned that he was pleased about developments in his part of the country. It was decided to continue the roll-out of the national diabetic retinopathy screening service in the HSE west area because a population-based screening programme had already been established in the former North Western Health Board. This will provide a template for the extension of the service to the whole country, which is a positive step.

See this speech in context