David Norris (Independent)

I compliment Senator Eamonn Coghlan on a remarkable initiative. I believe this is the first time this subject has been properly discussed in the Seanad and the Senator also achieved another unique first in getting all Senators present to stand on one leg with their eyes closed. Perhaps this is appropriate because it appears to be the stance adopted by the current Government.

I apologise for my absence during the Minister's speech which was, in its own dull way, a remarkable performance. The only merit it appeared to have is that it was delivered with the same lack of interest that was obvious in the listeners. I will give an example of the reason I say this. The Minister stated: "Adults and children who walk or cycle to school or to work are known to be more active, to use motorised transport less...". Of course they use motorised transport less; they are walking. This statement hardly has the same éclat as an announcement on the behaviour of the neutron in the hadron collider.

The lack of emphasis displayed by the Minister is certainly singularly appropriate, as is the degree of support he so ineffectively provides. I use the word "ineffectively" because he copies every single paragraph except the last one, which is a classic technique I have seen in this House, one that was attacked by the Fine Gael and Labour side when this side was in government. I do not refer to Senator Gilroy because he was not here at the time and is absolutely guiltless - as innocent as an unshorn lamb. The final paragraph of the amendment states it is proposed "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 case of kicking for touch because it means nothing will be done and more reports will be published. Experts will be assembled and their writings will be pored over and nothing will be done. Contained and buried in the Minister's speech is the reason, namely, that it may cost a certain amount of money in the short-term, although in the long term it would have significant health benefits and save the Exchequer money. For this reason, I will most certainly remain in the Chamber to vote with the original motion. I usually attempt to be a peacemaker and try to bring the two sides together by securing a composite motion. This time, however, it is important that we vote to support the motion in the names of Senators Eamonn Coghlan, Fiach Mac Conghail, Mary Ann O'Brien, Marie-Louise O'Donnell, Jillian van Turnhout and Katherine Zappone. I will certainly commit myself to so doing.

I welcome one or two things in the Minister's speech. The first is the establishment of the special action group on obesity. However, lest the Government claim originality on this, let me point out that a cross-party group from both Houses took part in "Operation Transformation" with the late Gerry Ryan. I was involved in that group as the leader and our star performer was Senator Sheahan, who lost a considerable amount of weight through rigid discipline. We actually won that event and we beat the large cab drivers from Galway and the large ladies from one of the suburbs of Dublin. Unfortunately, it is not possible to use the word "fat", although I would quite happily have used it about myself at that time. I lost a mere two and a half stone. It was done through discipline, but as we were all politicians, we decided to continue this by keeping our group together and make recommendations, precisely because we were a cross-party group.

We continued to meet as an all-party group and we came up with recommendations in concert with people who had been researchers on "Operation Transformation". We suggested nutritional labelling in restaurants, which we discovered had been tried in America where it was found there was not much income disadvantage, and restrictions on the marketing of food and drink to children. I would like to see something like that reactivated because the Minister is talking about more experts and civil servants. Practising politicians from all sides, on the back of the excellent initiative of Senator Coghlan and the independent Senators, should continue with this.

The report is very significant. I compliment Senator Coghlan on meeting so many different groups from schools and universities to researchers and people teaching on the ground. There is a reticence among some teachers to teach this if they are not trained. We need more properly trained people. I am also astonished that the Minister states that parents are allowed to opt out on the grounds of conscience. I do not believe that for a minute. What is the problem with conscience? Is it that they might catch the glimpse of an ankle, male or female? I simply do not understand that. I would have thought that exercise was good. The research from Dr. Karim Khan, which shows that physical inactivity kills more than smoking, obesity and diabetes combined, is the most single convincing argument in the entire report.

I come from a very different era to most of those currently in the Seanad. I was in school at a time when we had about half an hour of physical activity. We just raised our arms and did a few things like that. It was not taken seriously at all. I agree with Senator Coghlan and his supporters. It should be compulsory.

I was also pleased with another aspect of the Minister's speech. He used a Latin phrase "mens sana in corpore sano", which means "a sane mind and a sound body". I congratulate him on his courage because I have learned that it is politically toxic to make any reference whatever to the wisdom of the ages, classical languages or anything that shows intelligence above the moronic.

This is a very good debate. I congratulate those people involved in it. I am sorry the Government has chosen to restrict it in the way it has. I hope there will be a vote and I will be voting with the proposals of the motion.