Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

This morning I would like to welcome the formation of the working group, comprising the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, and the Minister of States at the Department of Health, Deputies White and Lynch, to tease out the difficulties with the protection of maternal life Bill, with the aim of presenting the heads of that Bill to the Cabinet next Tuesday. I welcome that development and stress that everybody wants sensible and workable legislation to be introduced which is rooted in the expert group's report which was published before Christmas. That is what everybody wants and rather than ratchet up the shouting, we should try to approach this in the calm and measured way that an issue such as this deserves. This legislation is extremely important and the stakes are far too high for people to be screaming and gossiping about what is happening. The approach taken is a good one.

I would also like to welcome, as did Senator Comiskey on another occasion, the funds set aside by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, for the fodder crisis. I also wish to stress that a dedicated helpline has been set up at the Department for those farmers who need assistance. Farmers are experiencing great difficulties at present and we owe a debt of gratitude to the various co-operatives, including Dairygold and Connacht Gold and others, which are assisting farmers by seeking to import fodder from the UK and subsidising the prices for that fodder. It is extremely important that everybody works together at this time to solve this serious problem. It is to be hoped these difficulties will pass as the weather improves.

I ask the Leader to arrange for the public consultation committee report on cancer and lifestyle to be discussed in the House. New research involving 350,000 people across Europe shows that there is a very clear link between fizzy drinks and type 2 diabetes, which can lead to hypertension, cardiovascular problems and cancer. I ask that we invite a Minister to the House to discuss the findings of the public consultation committee. I urge the development of a programme of public advice, particularly for parents, explaining the real risks that arise from offering their children fizzy drinks. While such drinks may be offered as an occasional treat, they actually pose a grave risk to health.