Seanad debates

Thursday, 25 April 2013

10:40 am

Photo of Aideen HaydenAideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Senator Barrett on his Bill, which was a very interesting and timely Private Members' Bill. It was very positive that the Minister of State accepted that even though EU legislation is being prepared on a macro level, it was perfectly acceptable to introduce in parallel separate national legislation on banking regulation. I am on record on a number of occasions as saying that our current banking system is not fit for purpose. We can point to a number of examples, including interest rates and bankers' remuneration. I call on the Leader to ask the Minister with specific responsibility, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, to come to the House for a debate on banking.

Last week I congratulated the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, INDI, which had launched its inaugural "Nourish Children" week. I called for a debate on INDI's recommendations particularly those on childhood obesity where it highlighted serious deficiencies in childhood obesity services. One recommendation was the removal from schools of vending machines selling high-calorie and sugary products. Research published today by Imperial College London shows that there is irrefutable causal evidence that drinking just one can of carbonated drink per day increases a person's chances of developing type 2 diabetes by 20%. Diabetes is one of the most significant emerging diseases in the world. Last week I called on the Leader to ask the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, to have vending machines removed from schools. No contribution those machines make to a school's finances is worth the long-term health risks to children. More importantly, State money is being invested in community centres, sports centres etc. with similar vending machines and I expand my request to all Ministers to show leadership in removing these machines from facilities in receipt of State money.

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