John Crown (Independent)

I echo the ringing congratulations that Senator Eamonn Coghlan has justifiably garnered today not only for his research and report and for his initiative to bring this important motion before the House, but also for the wonderful photograph in this morning's newspapers of a historical moment, the running of a 4 x 1 mile relay race in aid of the great charity, GOAL. I do not say as much frivolously or simply to bring it up, although Senator Coghlan looked well in the picture, but to make the point that the reason the picture is in the newspapers is for a rather sad event, that is, the closure of the running track at Belfield with no immediate plan to replace it other than a vague notion that it might be replaced at some stage in the future by another facility at the part of the Belfield campus designated for sporting activities. While we might be awash with the sentiment of the nice picture and the great cause, there was something sad about the demise of this historic track, the first of its kind in Ireland when it was built.

I was reminded that I had a brave patient - I can mention her name because we spoke openly about her on many occasions - who, sadly, is no longer with us, named Ann Burns. Ms Burns used to run a triathlon to raise funds for our charity every year. One often hears of extraordinary profiles in courage and, by way of anecdote, the only time I saw Ann Burns cry because of her illness was the time I told her that I was not allowing her to take part in the running component of the triathlon one year because she had secondary cancer in her spine. That was the only time I saw this brave woman break down and it reminds me of the courage and comradery that can come from sport.

This reminds me of something else relevant to what Senator Coghlan is attempting to do today as well. Ann Burns observed my then 125 kg girth and said to me that she was unsure whether I would save her life but that she was going to save mine and she would get me to start exercising. I did so. I used to go to that running track and I shed approximately 20 kg as a result. It is critical to have a culture that prevents people getting to that stage before they must do something about it.

What is the importance of obesity in this debate? Others, including the Minister, Deputy Reilly, have gone through the medical details and I will not reiterate these, other than to say that we are all aware of the dangers of diabetes, blood pressure and heart disease. However, some people do not appreciate the case outlined by my friend and colleague in St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dr. Donal O'Shea, to the effect that the impact of obesity is approximately the same, as an Irish health burden, as the impact of smoking. We are all aware of what smoking does but the impact of obesity in terms of the years of premature death and lives lost is now approximately the same.

It is critical that we take this matter seriously. Many people are unaware of the evidence in recent years showing that the same risk factors that predispose in the cases of heart disease and diabetes, etc., strongly predispose in the case of breast cancer and that were we to do one thing to reduce the incidence of and death from breast cancer 20 and 30 years from now it would be to prevent obesity. This would probably have a greater impact than screening mammography, which has a very worthwhile impact.

How do we go forward? Previously in the House I brought up the subject of certain core curricular items which, I believe, should be part of everyone's education until they leave school and which they should not be allowed to forego until they reach their 18th birthday. People will use some of these items to matriculate to college while others are items which, if they show a particular skill, they should have the opportunity to develop it.

I would regard others as the basic survival skills of life. Science is one of these. We live in a universe governed by the rules of science and if we are to survive in it we must know how it works. We have a rudimentary knowledge of science. We know that we fall down and not up and we know that fire burns and that water drowns, but it is important to amplify this. One critical part of science is human physiology and as with any science subject one of the most important aspects is the practical aspect. This is why we must regard physical education proposals as not merely about exercise or health, but as a critical component of the survival skills that our education system should encourage people to carry through life.

We should hold a vote on this matter for the reasons Senator Norris mentioned. I am unsure exactly what the procedures are but I suspect we will not have a vote. However, I believe we should do so not because I wish to cause dissent in the House, but because of the shenanigans in this House in recent days whereby we have been called for multiple votes. I heard the cuckoo going so often today that I began to think I was Jack Nicholson and that I was ready for Nurse Ratched to come in at one stage. This is a critical issue and we should debate it and vote on it because this is not something on which we should give those in Government, God bless them, any wriggle-room. We should tell them what we expect.

I thank Senators for their time and I thank Senator Eamonn Coghlan for another wonderful advertisement for the Seanad in a two day period during which a documentary video could have been put together and used for the "Abolish the Seanad campaign" - I might have spoken for it myself. Nevertheless, it is wonderful to see someone giving us an argument to the effect that the Seanad should perhaps survive and bring an expertise to the House other than that provided by full-time politicians.