Results 4,721-4,740 of 7,126 for speaker:Alan Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: I thank the members for their attendance and I welcome Senator Warfield to the committee this morning. I note the apologies received from the Vice Chairman, Senator Joan Freeman. I welcome our guests from the Irish Heart Foundation - Mr. Chris Macey, head of advocacy and Ms Janis Morrissey, manager of health promotion. I also welcome Dr. John Sharry, the founding director of Parents Plus,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: I thank Mr. Macey. I note and thank Dr. Adele Keating for her attendance this morning. My apologies to her for not reading her name out earlier, as it was not in front of me. I invite Dr. Sharry to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: I thank Dr. Sharry. Before I open the discussion up to members, even though it is touched upon in the Parents Plus submission, could Dr. Sharry talk us through the parenting programme and what it entails?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: Does either organisation, in terms of trying to inform people to make healthier choices, give them examples of a better shop? Invariably, one of the issues that arises, in terms of poor choices being made in supermarkets, is that people are going for processed foods, the simple and easy choices which often are cheaper than the raw materials, and are obviously far worse? Is this part of any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: I will now open the floor for questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: As the clock had been taken off the screen, I could not see it. Deputy Tom Neville was the next speaker to indicate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: If the Senator has any further questions, would she mind front-loading them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: That could happen, in fairness.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: I thank the witnesses for coming before us. As I mentioned earlier, the opening statement will be published. If members have any further questions or queries for either of our groups this morning, feel free to email them. If there are further observations, they can be sent to us via the clerk. That would be beneficial in finalising the process in a month or two. On behalf of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: We will hear a presentation by the National Nutrition Surveillance Centre of the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science. Dr. Sinead Murphy is a consultant paediatrician with a special interest in childhood obesity and a member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland policy group on obesity. She is joined by members of the clinical advisory group on obesity....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: I apologise to Dr. Murphy. I erred. I was supposed to invite her to make an opening statement. I simply did not turn the page. I ask her to make her opening statement and then address Senator Joan Freeman's statement. We will then restart the clock for the Senator. It was my mistake.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: Who would like to ask a question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: Yes. Deputy Rabbitte can go ahead.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: McDonald's has been doing that for decades. I remember those campaigns, not just by McDonald's but other retailers also.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: No. I have not come in yet. Is Deputy Rabbitte finished?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: I noted down some broad subject headings during today's discussions. Participation, drop-off, education, control and planning are the themes I am taking from this discussion. Participation refers to physical activity, while drop-off refers to the steep decline in activity in secondary school. Education and awareness refer not only to children but parents in particular. By control, I mean...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: Dr. Murphy spoke about the intervention of a particularly good public health nurse, which is heartening to hear. As a parent, I know certain visits take place where measurements are taken and information is stored. What effect would it have if we increased public health nurse intervention throughout a child's life to include recommendations on healthy eating, sporting participation,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: Where are we going in terms of childhood obesity, mortality rates and impacts on society if we do not have serious intervention? Lifestyle and foodstuffs have changed so dramatically that the life expectancy of my sons is ten years greater than mine, and I was only born in 1977. When they have children it might be dramatically higher again but is it only for the lucky few who have healthy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion (18 Apr 2018)

Alan Farrell: I thank the witnesses for their participation.