Results 481-500 of 11,246 for speaker:Colm Burke
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: The task force is doing a lot of work with industry, but industry is not out in public saying they have reduced sugar or salt levels. They are not talking about it out there, but they have worked closely with the task force. Some of them are good and are interested in taking on the work the task force is doing. I referred to how obesity and overweight are at a higher level in the lower...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: We have been working on the whole area of advertising of unhealthy foods. For instance, there is a children's commercial communications code. This is a statutory broadcasting code issued by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland pursuant to section 42 of the Broadcasting Act. The establishment of Coimisiún na Meán under the online safety and media regulations provides for the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: There has been some work done on that but the view at this stage is that we have done a lot of work on getting people on board on a voluntary basis and on the whole area of content of food. I spoke earlier about working with manufacturers to reduce saturated fat, salt and sugar content.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: The issue in relation to legislation is ongoing. The Department is still working with the various interest groups. There has been progress made in relation to reducing those elements in food. I gave the information already about how the amount of tax coming in has come down because we have achieved some goals.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: We have also had an increase in population over the last ten or 15 years. The number of people with obesity or who are overweight has remained static. Now the work is to adjust-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: My understanding is that the work is ongoing on the issue of introducing legislation to deal with that area. There is not a draft Bill.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: I will have to come back to the Deputy with further information as to what stage it is at. My understanding is that there is not a draft Bill prepared at this stage. We have been trying to work with industry and across a range of Departments on this. Achievements have been made in this area.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: There are numerous programmes involved where we do not need legislation. They have been implemented. We have worked on that. We have worked around issues in relation to advertising of unhealthy foods aimed at children. We are also working at EU level-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: There are a lot of areas where work has been done where we do not need legislation. It is not all about legislation.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: In fairness, progress has been made in a whole range of areas in relation to dealing with this challenge. For instance, the Department of Social Protection school meals programme did not need legislation. Likewise, the contracts entered into between the schools and the suppliers do not require legislation.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: Its remit comes under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022. Therefore, it will work with the Department-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: Coimisiún na Meán will regulate food advertising.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: The Department's understanding is that codes in relation to high-sugar, salt and fat foods will be addressed in a separate consultation in the context of the review of the children's commercial code. The Department and the national intersectional working group will continue to engage with the commission on this issue.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: My understanding is that Coimisiún na Meán will have a major influence as regards that type of advertising.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: Coimisiún na Meán will have jurisdiction over advertising for food items, as I understand it. If food is being advertised and there is a risk to people's health, then Coimisiún na Meán will have the say as regards----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: Coimisiún na Meán will have regulatory codes; therefore, the industry has to comply with those regulatory codes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: My understanding is that they are not completed yet but there is work ongoing on that area.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: In fairness, now, the legislation has been put in place in relation to reducing saturated fat, sugar and salt. The legislation has been put in place in relation to the sugar item on that. That tax is now completed and we have provided the tax figures already. It was €32 million in 2022 and is now down to €29 million because the industry has responded appropriately.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Childhood Obesity: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)
Colm Burke: There is a different scale of tax applied depending on the sugar content in the item. Therefore, there is less tax payable if there is-----