Seanad debates

Thursday, 22 May 2008

11:00 am

Photo of Camillus GlynnCamillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

I wish to point out that it is not the responsibility of the Government to ensure that children do not eat food that will make them obese. As we know from the report on childhood obesity published a number of years ago, for the first time the incidence of diabetes in young children has increased. It is regrettable that some parents would see fit to replace the traditional sandwich and bottle of milk for lunch with a packet of crisps, a bar of chocolate and bottle of fizzy drink. That is what is contributing to obesity in a major way. Members were treated to a very fine lecture on the issue by Ms Anna Clarke from the Diabetes Federation of Ireland. Parents should take responsibility for the rearing of their children. It is an operational matter for parents, not for the Government.

I have raised the issue of poaching and the elimination, in some cases, of our traditional fish stocks on several occasions. I ask the Leader to organise a debate on this matter. In County Westmeath one local paper in particular, the Midland Topic, has carried a number of articles over a period of time describing how the physical safety of those who were brave enough to confront poachers was threatened. When will we have a debate on this matter? I do not want something serious to happen, although very recently it almost did. I want us to be proactive rather than reactive in this matter.

The Green Paper on local government was published recently. I ask the Leader to invite to the House the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, to debate the matter. We are on the run-in to local elections and the green paper will provide for a very interesting debate. There are many fine proposals in it with which I agree but there are others I do not support. It would be useful to have such a debate at the earliest possible opportunity.

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