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

I am in regular contact with the Department's team and its strategic action group on obesity. There has been a lot of involvement by the HSE in this regard. We are always happy to meet with people who have an interest in the area to support the initiative. This is the Department of Health but I often think it is the Department of ill-health, given that we are always dealing with disease and cure rather than prevention and trying to keep people well. We have a new Government initiative, involving all Departments, and an acknowledgement that the Department of Health alone cannot keep people healthy. We require the support of the Department of Education and Skills to educate children early on healthy lifestyles and good diets, the assistance of the Department of Justice and Equality in keeping places safe for people to exercise at night, the co-operation of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to make it easier for people to walk and use public transport rather than driving from A to B, the assistance of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in providing well-lit, safe footpaths and the assistance of the Department of Finance in respect of how it taxes various products, putting a lien on what is unhealthy and making fruit and healthier foods less expensive. It can also examine at the VAT rate on vending machines. I will be making proposals to the Government about vending machines offering fresh fruit, water and perishables rather than sweetened fizzy drinks, chocolate and crisps.

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