Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)

I acknowledge the presence of the Minister for Health and thank him for the responses I have been receiving on this issue, which I have been raising since I was elected. Having a background as a primary school teacher, the issue of childhood obesity is of great concern to me. The problem has developed to an alarming rate in Ireland and deserves more care and attention. Credit is due to the Minister for the establishment of a special action group to deal with this issue. Everything needs to be put on the table and examined with regard to this problem. The Irish Times recently reported the observation that childhood obesity is a ticking timebomb waiting to explode. Apart from its financial implications and the cost to the Exchequer, which is estimated at approximately €4 billion, the effect of obesity on the physical health and psychological wellbeing of the nation is being stored away for future generations and we can no longer ignore it.

In the United States, President Obama has given Mrs. Obama special responsibility for dealing with obesity. In recent years in Ireland the food we have been ingesting has been increasing while our movement rates have been decreasing. We are eating more and moving less, with the result that we are putting up weight at alarming rates. This is leading to cardiovascular problems, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and obesity related cancers. It also leads to people developing asthma at a much younger age. I have a special interest in this because I am an asthma sufferer. Endocrinologists say there is a strong link between obesity and type 2 diabetes which is now manifesting itself in the genetic make-up of society. We can no longer ignore this issue.

The problem was brought to my attention when I was training to be a primary teacher and a mother told me she could not find a first communion dress for her child, who was in second class, because the child was morbidly obese.

The problem must be tackled on a number of fronts. The most important is education. We must educate society as to the dangers of obesity. Many of us were fortunate to be brought up on boiled potatoes, meat and two vegetables, but some parents do not have the skills to produce a healthy lunch and give their children the start in life that other children are getting. I welcome recent media attention on this issue which is usually the focus of attention in January when people get involved in campaigns such as "Weigh the Nation", fitness regimes and so on. However, by mid-February the media has forgotten about it and many New Year's resolutions have gone out the window. I would like this issue to be tackled in the same manner as we tackled smoking, suicide and mental health awareness. We need to address this massive problem in our country.

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