Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator Clune's comments on data protection and privacy, following the Snowden controversy and Angela Merkel's recent call for an agreement on EU data protection rules.

This comes at an interesting time. As it stands, Ireland and Britain are perceived as the EU's weak link when it comes to privacy. If a German Facebook user is to be guided by any law, it will be German law, which is something we should not welcome. The proposed EU regulation would eliminate such wriggle room on privacy issues; thus, the heated negotiations in Brussels can be understood. It presents a challenge but also opportunities. We would be well placed to become a hub for data protection and Internet security should we choose to embrace an enhanced EU data protection directive. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, on the whole area of privacy and data protection.

If the Cathaoirleach will indulge me, I wish to raise an issue that I mentioned yesterday, although I was cut short because I was over time, apparently. It is to do with healthy eating. I commend Grainne in the Oireachtas Restaurant on her healthy eating initiative. She has gone to a lot of effort to introduce healthy foods and to encourage healthy eating in the Houses, and has displayed calorie counts and so on. It will probably continue in the Houses, which I would very much welcome.

While I was researching VAT, I noted the anomalies in regard to food. VAT on fruit juice, bottled water and toothpaste is 23%, while, bizarrely, VAT on cooking fat or oil, steak and kidney pies and potato waffles is 0%. It may seem like a minor issue to talk about food but it is highly important to the health of the nation, and the major obesity crisis we are facing represents a huge cost to the taxpayer. If we could make some money by taxing certain foods, even at the rate at which other foods are taxed, it could be very useful. I call for a debate on VAT rates.