Colm Burke (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "That'" and substitute the following:

"Seanad Éireann:

— recognises that the delivery of an effective health awareness and physical fitness programme in both primary and secondary schools is essential for the overall wellbeing of children;

— notes that while there is a new physical education curriculum in place at primary school level since 1999, it is not being implemented in full in 65% of schools, 54% of those schools citing lack of facilities and 11% of those schools citing pressure of time due to competition with other subjects; (Points for Life — Physical Fitness for a Healthy Life) (November 2011);

— notes that overweight and obesity is a serious problem in Ireland and that between 18% and 27% of Irish children are overweight or obese. (Irish Heart Foundation, 2007);

— notes that excess non-lean body mass, at a young age is associated with both immediate and long-term health risks and will have significant implications for health-care costs; (Growing up in Ireland, National Longitudinal Study of Children, Overweight and Obesity among 9-year olds (2011) p. 8);

— notes that while the status of physical education might be equal in law to other subjects, this is not matched in the reality of practice (Hardman, 2007, 9); and

— proposes that the Government under the stewardship of the Minister for Health explores options for developing effective and appropriate responses, cross-departmental, to implement a continuously assessed physical fitness and health awareness programme and regular corresponding health checks to lessen the burden on our health service in the future and improve quality of life.".

This is a very important proposal. The amendment we have tabled to it relates to giving the Minister for Health the opportunity to exploring the options for developing effective and appropriate responses. The amendment has been put forward because in 2005 the task force on obesity issued its report, which contained 93 recommendations. In 2009, another report was critical of the fact that only partial implementation had been achieved in respect of these recommendations. The Minister has established a special action group on obesity and it is important that he and it be given the opportunity to consider both the options available and the best way of putting in place a proactive programme for dealing with this issue.

The reports of the World Health Organisation, WHO, on this matter indicate that physical inactivity is identified as the fourth leading risk factor in the context of global mortality. Levels of physical inactivity are rising in many countries and this has major implications in the context of the spread of non-communicable diseases, NCDs, and the general health of the population worldwide. The significance of physical activity on public health, the global mandates for the work carried out by the WHO in respect of the promotion of physical activity and NCD prevention and the limited existence of national guidelines on physical activity for health in low and middle-income countries make evident the need for the development of global recommendations that address the links between the frequency, duration, intensity, type and total amount of physical activity needed for the prevention of NCDs.

The WHO's pamphlet "Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health" states:

For children and young people, physical activity includes play, games, sports, transportation, chores, recreation, physical education, or planned exercise, in the context of family, school, and community activities.

The recommendations to improve cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, bone health, and cardiovascular and metabolic health biomarkers are:

1. Children and youth aged 5–17 should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily.

2. Amounts of physical activity greater than 60 minutes provide additional health benefits.

3. Most of the daily physical activity should be aerobic. Vigorous-intensity activities should be incorporated, including those that strengthen muscle and bone, at least 3 times per week.

The benefits of being physically active outweigh the harms. Any existing risk can be reduced by a progressive increase in the activity level, especially in children and young people who are inactive.

I am of the view that the Government should lead a keep fit and healthy campaign for a sustained period because this will encourage people to be more health conscious.

Previous speakers have already referred to the statistics relating to this matter. The safefood report indicates that 61% of adults are overweight or obese, that 1.25 million people have high blood pressure, that 206,000 suffer from angina-heart attack, that 92,000 suffer from stroke and that over 210,000 have diabetes. A lack of activity contributes in some way to all of these medical conditions. Obesity can give rise to gall stones, infertility, arthritis, asthma, heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. All of these conditions are all connected to a lack of physical activity.

On the RTE programme "Operation Transformation", leaders from different age groups are chosen and are asked to follow a strict diet and programme of exercise for a specific period. These individuals motivate people sitting at home to get out and exercise. Perhaps a similar programme which would expose children and young people to the benefits of exercise and diet and which would be provided in an educational setting could be developed.

The proposer of the motion has clearly done his research and has presented a comprehensive report. What he has done shows how Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas can put forward extremely constructive proposals. It also shows that not all proposals relating to health and education need to emanate from Government. I welcome Senator Eamonn Coghlan's proposal, particularly as it represents the way forward in respect of political debate in the House. The Senator has made a very constructive contribution and, in the context of framing Government policy, it is important that the Minister should give careful consideration to it.

There is no country which provides an ideal comparison but it is interesting nonetheless to consider the position which obtains elsewhere with regard to education. For instance, I looked at one in Scotland which places specific emphasis on healthy living and food and ensuring that young people eat nutritional food, but also there is a proactive programme on exercise and physical activity. We need to develop that within our educational programme, to be more proactive on it and to set out clear targets to achieve within five and ten year timescales. That would be important in the future development of policy in this area.

I thank the proposer and the seconder. I ask that the Minister take on board some of the proposals contained in the report. I accept he himself must do further research with his own group, but this is a constructive contribution and it should be given serious consideration.