Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State. I am glad we are having this debate because it is one we should have in all walks of life. If nothing else, the task force on obesity has opened up the opportunity to create an awareness which has not been present up to now.

Previous speakers said there is no epidemic of obesity. Nevertheless, we are aware that obesity is a serious problem in this country. It affects the health of so many people that it is difficult to believe that all the problems can be traced back to weight issues. I too read the report by Professor Neligan. He is right in what he says. I am a practical and common sense person but it must be said that if people are overweight, we will have cardiac problems, hypertension, diabetes and physical inactivity, with people feeling lazy and lethargic, and unable to perform well in class or in jobs.

I come from an educational background and I can see the situation involving children who are obese and overweight as distinct from those who are fine, thin and energetic. One can see the difference in their learning behaviour. This problem must be debated and I want it debated in all walks of life. Whether we like it or not, we must talk about statistics. More than 2,000 premature deaths are linked annually to obesity. Some 39% of Irish adults are said to be overweight while 18% are classified as obese. The trends have to give rise to concern. It is estimated that if we do not curtail certain lifestyles, the level of adult obesity will increase by 1% annually. I did not pull these statements out of the air. They are facts. Research has been conducted on the matter. The task force recommendations have brought this issue to the fore.

I will concentrate on the education of children because that is what I know best. Though it is difficult to gauge, it has been said that more than 300,000 children on this island are now overweight. The impact on health is very significant in terms of the personal dimension and the financial cost. I have heard others refer to the World Health Organisation, which describes obesity as a global epidemic. I do not want to use words like these because I feel they are over the top. At the same time, however, it is important to note that obesity is gripping our shores.

The question is where we go from here. How do we introduce preventive measures? I have been hard on parents on several issues lately and I believe they are not taking responsibility in this area either. It is not their fault, however, because society and lifestyles have changed greatly. Parents often arrive home late in the evening and do not know how to prepare a balanced, nutritious meal. When they are preparing lunches for their children they include take-away foods, processed meats, fizzy drinks, crisps, biscuits and chocolates. I would not, as a teacher, dare to criticise because parents have a right to decide on the contents of a lunch box. However, in the past, children were very lucky to get an apple, bread and butter and milk for their lunch. We need to go back to the more simple ways.

Some will say that parents do not have sufficient time but they have the time to change the type of food they put into lunch boxes and to prepare a proper meal with meat, vegetables and potatoes. Incidentally, potatoes seem to have gone out the window; people do not boil potatoes today. Young people are dictating to their parents regarding the evening meal. Parents are afraid to say no because they do not have quality time with their children, so they try to please them by giving in. In other words, parents are trying to make up for the time they have lost with their children. Many latchkey students are told by their parents to pick up A, B or C from McDonalds or Superquinn on their way home from school. Many 14 and 15 year olds are feeding themselves and it is not their fault. The fault lies with the lifestyle and work routines of their parents. Society has changed fundamentally in this regard and the change is not beneficial to the next generation.

Parents have a major role in tackling obesity, but they are not alone. We need a collective approach, with teachers educating children from fourth class in primary schools, in a formal, timetabled way on diet and nutrition. An educational leaflet should be sent to parents at the beginning of every school year indicating the best types of foods to include in children's lunch boxes. Schools could recommend healthy foods, as highlighted by nutritionists.

I am not sure if the old ICA classes still exist, but they were very beneficial. The ICA ran health and cookery classes in rural communities. Is this way of life gone, where parents are taught how to cook simple meals? I agree with Senator Ulick Burke when he says that simple ways are the way forward. We do not need large amounts of money to get this message across. Resources are not required to tackle this issue. The obesity problem is about education, information and efforts by parents to create a healthy way of life for their children and for themselves.

People should exercise more. They should try to walk in the evenings if they cannot get into a gym. Parents should encourage their children to take part in sporting activities, even if there is a risk factor involved. The issue of sport and litigation must be tackled in this regard. I saw a television programme recently where teachers had introduced a skipping programme into a primary school. I would like to see more of that kind of activity because not everyone wants to be, or can be, a great athlete or hurler. However, some form of activity is necessary for everyone.

We have become television addicts. Children come home in the evening and use the remote control to surf up to 30 channels. That is all they do when their school work is finished. One seldom sees children out and about, playing games in their own areas. Perhaps local authorities should examine the possibility of providing more open spaces. However, the new policy seems to be in favour of high density apartments with even fewer open spaces.

Educational authorities have a major role to play in tackling obesity. Collective responsibility is required. There must be co-operation between educationalists, parents and medical professionals. A national awareness campaign must be conducted because while this is a challenging problem, it is not insurmountable. The task force has produced guidelines but the Government cannot do everything. It can take the lead, but that lead must be taken up by other agencies, bodies and above all, by parents.