Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to say loads more, but the fourth matter on which we should focus is obesity. It differs slightly from the healthy diet argument, as one does not need to be obese to be unhealthy in terms of the likelihood of cancer.

Improvements in lifestyle can prevent approximately one third of cancers. This is an incredible number. As legislators, we should be fighting to make these seemingly simple and small changes. Taken together in a macro view, they can cause significant improvements in the health and well being of our citizens in the short and long terms. While we can put these matters on the long finger and cave under lobbying from each industry, now is the time to take cognisance of the larger picture and take brave decisions. We will reap the rewards in a decade or two.