Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I disagree with the comments made by Senator Norris. They are inappropriate with respect to the role of Germany in Europe today. The Croke Park issue is very serious. I very much doubt that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will have any trouble coming into the House for a debate on the matter. It is, however, for the Leader to request that debate.

I congratulate the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, INDI, which launched the inaugural Nourish Children Week on Monday. INDI has conducted a mapping exercise of childhood obesity services around the country which shows that there are only three childhood obesity prevention programmes for children who are identified as being at risk of becoming obese, operating across seven counties. There are only two group intervention programmes for obese children, operating across three counties and Temple Street Children's Hospital is the only children's hospital with an intervention programme for obese children. It has also made several recommendations on what can be done about childhood obesity and we are all aware that the cause of childhood obesity, which affects one in four primary school children, is excessive calorie intake and lack of physical activity. With that in mind I would like the Leader to organise a debate on the specific recommendations of the INDI report but also in particular on one of those recommendations which is a call to remove vending machines from schools. In view of the seriousness of the matter will the Leader immediately ask the Minister for Education and Skills to ask all schools to remove vending machines selling calorific products?