James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is because the issue ranges far and wide. I will examine the idea proposed by Deputy Patrick O'Donovan. Having a focussed individual such as that has merit. I have made this point about public health to county council health forums. We have a responsibility in the House on the issue. Politically, it is more sexy to open a new wing of a hospital or an MRI scanner than to promote a public health initiative. We have been very poor in supporting these things as politicians. We pay lip-service rather than paying for them. Every euro spent on prevention can save between €12 and €20 on treatment. That is well proven.

I agree with Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan that there is a great amount of money to be saved in prevention. There is a major educational job to be undertaken and there are many vested interests. I would like to see vending machines in schools selling only fruit, apples and water rather than the chocolate and crisps they currently sell. We must make the right thing to do the easy thing to do. If one is hungry and all one can avail of is a vending machine that sells this sort of stuff, that is what someone will do. The issue will occupy minds for a considerable time to come. I am open to initiatives people have to talk to us and to submit to the special action group on obesity. I look forward to the contributions of Deputies.

The Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, is particularly interested in alcohol and is progressing a policy on it. I would like to see not only the unit of alcohol on the side of the container but also the calories.

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