Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We debate regularly the costs and the difficulties in the health service. As we need to have a debate I ask the Leader to arrange for it at an opportune time. We need a debate on the promotion of preventive medicine and the need for lifestyle change. I say this against the backdrop of an article in today's edition of The Connacht Tribune which gives the results of a recent survey conducted by Croí among the farming community at a number of marts in County Galway. The statistics, which are alarming, showed that 50% of those surveyed had high blood pressure, that 61% were overweight and obese and that 97% exceeded the recommended waistline measurement. If that is indicative of one section of the community, obviously as a nation we have a very serious health problem. This points to the need for lifestyle change, diet, exercise and regular health checks to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Given that the health budget is significant there are huge savings to be made by people addressing potential health issues at an early stage. It would be appropriate that we have a debate on the effectiveness of the health promotion campaign because if the survey is indicative of the health of the nation there are serious problems coming down the road.