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

On the last topic, my position is known. We should be travelling in that direction, but I realise there are broader economic factors at play in the considerations of other ministries. I will pursue my goal and I believe it to be the most appropriate direction in which to travel.

The Healthy Ireland initiative is in its early stages and we are working to bring greater cohesiveness to it. We are the first Government to bring in an individual at principal officer level across the Departments of Health, Children and Youth Affairs and Education and Skills with responsibility for obesity. We are serious about tackling this and I am pleased Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has raised it. If we do not tackle the epidemic of obesity and the resulting diabetes epidemic we see coming down the tracks, we may be the first generation to bury the generation behind us. That is not a legacy any parent wants.

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