Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wholeheartedly support Senator Mary Ann O'Brien's call to ban vending machines. I have highlighted the matter on numerous occasions in the past. I find it hard to believe, in a country in which one in four children are either overweight or obese, that the status quois that we have vending machines laden with sweets in schools. They have the potential to create bad habits for children at an early age which they will continue throughout their lives. It is refreshing to hear statements on the matter from a woman who owns a chocolate company. In a way she is down on sugar, but she appreciates that vending machines in schools are totally unacceptable. I join her in her call for the Minister to come here to debate the issue. What is the Government doing to alleviate childhood obesity if we are willing to leave vending machines laden with sweets in schools? It beggars belief.

On a more positive note, I strongly welcome the new ESRI report that predicts a growth in GNP of 4.1% in 2015 and 3.5% in 2016. According to the report, the increased level of economic activity should see unemployment rates falling to less than 10% by the end of 2015, for the first time since 2008. The unemployment rate is envisaged to drop even further, to 8.4%, in 2016, which is 1.5% less than at the end of last month. Moreover, it is predicted that public finances will be boosted by exports and investment, particularly on the consumer spending front. As a result, the budget deficit should decline to 2.3% of GDP this year, with a further reduction to 0.3% in 2016.

The report also states that an estimated 16,000 new housing units will be built this year, an increase of 5,000 from 2014. While the report paints an overall positive economic picture for the coming years, it also puts on record concerns about the mortgage lending restrictions introduced by the Central Bank. I have previously voiced my concern about these restrictions and welcomed the subsequent amendment to the restrictions for first-time buyers. Nevertheless, today's ESRI report warns that these restrictions may depress housing prices, which it has reported are undervalued by 10%. Potentially, this means less incentive to construct houses and, therefore, fewer properties and rising rental rates.