Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I concur with Senator O'Keeffe regarding the issue of childhood obesity. I commend Senator Quinn on the Food Provenance Bill 2013. I am afraid that labelling is only one aspect of this issue. It goes much deeper than that and I join Senator O'Keeffe in calling for a debate on obesity generally as while it affects children, it also affects adults in a major way with significant costs being borne by the State.

I also support Senator Mullins's comments on small towns. I previously made a proposal to disproportionately taxing larger shops, which is the policy in the North. Such a proposal would address the imbalance in small towns caused by planning disasters where large multiples have been sited on the edge of towns thereby sucking the life out of the centre. A tax would mean smaller retailers would have to pay less and large multiples would pay more. That would seek to address the imbalance. I seek a debate on the issue as soon as possible.