Results 1,701-1,720 of 9,362 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: The rates have stabilised but, with the rising population, obesity continues to be a problem. Our officials work with the WHO to look at obesity rates throughout Europe. The Deputy is correct to say it is not just up to the individual. Obesity is a complex area, so we are looking at educational and promotional campaigns and how even our policy and legislation-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is very difficult to measure success in respect of that. That is the short answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: We know the rates have stabilised, including for children, but with the population increasing, it does and will remain a problem. Nevertheless, we work with our international counterparts in the context of best practice and evidence-based figures for this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is a complex area and research is key, which is being carried out an ongoing basis in respect of this, but the Deputy is correct to say we need to improve data collection. There are a number of campaigns and it is not just one area. A multimedia campaign, for example, will begin in mid-April, involving the roll-out of media on many social media outlets. It is to raise awareness...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: I met with Alcohol Action Ireland and IBEC on the alcohol legislation. In fact, I met with IBEC after the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, had signed the regulation for the labelling. I believe it is important to speak to all sides. However, the Deputy can see from the legislation that we have brought through in regard to alcohol and tobacco that while the lobbies are very powerful, it has not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: The quick answer is that we do not know yet and we will have to let it bed in for a number of years to see the impact of it. I agree with the Deputy that we have an issue in this country with alcohol consumption, including foetal alcohol syndrome and all of those areas, which is why it is so important. Again, it is about raising awareness and letting people have information around the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: With regard to alcohol, we are the only country in the EU that has brought in labelling regulation, which is to inform people and raise awareness around the harmful effect of alcohol by informing consumers of the content and the health risks associated with it. We are leading the way in that regard but if further legislation is required, we always have to be open to that and wait for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: The measure has been in place for approximately five years, as the Deputy said. The initial indications are that the tax has had a positive effect. The indicators are that drinks producers are encouraged to reduce the amount of sugar content in their products, and studies in the UK would support those indications. Last August, the Department issued a request for tender for an external...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: I understand it is €30 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is €30 million annually.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: I do not think so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Deputy raises a very important area around the appearance of something that looks healthy in our supermarkets but is it actually healthy? It is a big area that we need to examine. Again, education and awareness will be part of it but through the reformulation review and how that has worked, we will also consider, for example, the need for mandatory legislation in this area. Research is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: We are all tempted at the checkout when we have done our healthy food shop and then see high fat, high sugar, high salt goods there. I am certainly open to this. Education and awareness are key and are a very big part of it, but there are the voluntary codes. The process through Coimisiún na Meán is going to be another area where we look at this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: I think Deputy Durkan is right. It is important to say that a healthy diet does not exclude any food group, but it does mean we need to be eating more fruit and vegetables. It is also important to turn to what the Department of Education is doing through the SPHE and well-being programmes. We have the Food Dudes programme, where children are introduced to healthy eating and get packages of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: Portugal has a very good example. That country has legislated for marketing restrictions. It is another country we are working with at EU level and looking at how that approach has worked, how it is being bedded in and at the evidence of the impact in this regard. The Commission is also working on setting nutrient profiles and front-of-pack labelling. This work is being led by a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: Yes. I take that point. In Spain, for example, 38% of children are overweight or obese. Every European country is grappling with this issue and this is why working at an EU level will be important. Education awareness is key and what the schools are doing is extremely important. I refer to perhaps looking at expanding this aspect as well. The marketing and packaging area is another...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Healthy Ireland 2023 survey stated that 18% of the population aged 15 or over are current smokers,14% smoke daily and 4% said they smoke occasionally. According to the health behaviour in school-aged children study from 2018, 11% of children between ten and 17 years have tried smoking. That marked a decline of 5% from 16% in 2014. According to the European schools project on alcohol and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Health Research Board regularly produces information on that. We know it is not good to take drugs. The national drugs strategy addresses harm reduction and helping those in addiction. We all know the devastating effects of addiction, not only on those who are in addiction but on their families and the communities across the country that are devastated. That is why the work of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Public Health and the Commercial Determinants of Health: Discussion (14 Feb 2024)

Hildegarde Naughton: We have a programme called Sláintecare healthy communities, which focuses on disadvantaged areas because we know that, as in other countries, people who experience social disadvantage or lower levels of educational attainment tend to have poorer quality diets. A number of interventions have been designed to help target and help people in those areas. There is a nutrition education...