David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House again. They say that looks are deceiving, and I am not someone who is going who is going to be characterised as being obese any time soon, and that is for sure. I say this in order to pick up on a point made by Senator van Turnhout, who said that we should look at this differently. Obviously, obesity is a big problem and we are going in the wrong direction in that area. However, there are many people who may not present themselves as obese but they are not eating healthily. For example, I drink a lot of coffee, eat far too many sugar products and I like all of the drinks we spoke about earlier, such as Coke and Lucozade, and I eat a lot of crisps and sweets. I simply make the point that there are people who look healthier than they are. Therefore, Senator van Turnout is right that this is about healthy eating and healthy living and not just people who we can see are obese, but also those who may not be eating properly. There is an issue within that which needs to be looked at.

The most recent World Health Organization reports predict that Ireland is heading for a massive increase in rates of obesity and excess weight. This is extremely concerning as, if it were to happen, it would have a severely negative effect on the health of our nation. There are a number of issues. Obviously, there is the impact that obesity has on citizens and the fact that we will have more unhealthy citizens but there is also the cost it will have on the State, given there is a huge cost associated with obesity and unhealthy living and eating. We know the cost of obesity could more than quadruple within the next 15 years, with a potential increase of €1,175 a year for every individual in the State. The annual obesity cost at present is €1.13 billion but this could reach as high as €5.4 billion by 2030 unless action is taken urgently.

Obesity affects disadvantaged sectors of society disproportionately but it is a problem that society at large must face for the good of our own health and so we can avoid the costs to our services that come with it. The Government obviously has a very important role to play in regard to education and raising awareness, and some of those issues were raised by other Senators. The State has to step up to the plate and ensure the type of predictions we are hearing from the World Health Organization and other organisations do not become a reality. None of this is inevitable; it is only inevitable if we do not take the necessary steps to prevent it from happening.The World Health Organization predicts a massive increase in obesity for Irish women, soaring to 57%, while the proportion of obese Irish men is expected to increase to 48%, according to these reports. Healthy Ireland is the 2013 national framework for action to improve the health and well-being of our citizens. While it is a strategy and recognises the challenges facing our health system and focuses on obesity, it does not offer enough solutions. We need to consider a more solution-based approach to this issue. We have seen the heads of a Bill on calorie posting on menus in food outlets and we have been informed by the Minister it will be introduced in 2016. This needs to be made a priority. Sinn Féin wishes to know when the Bill will be enacted and what other measures the Minister will take in light of the predictions we hear from the World Health Organization and others.

The Minister established a special action group on obesity which organised a three-year media campaign that began in 2013. The Minister may have touched on this in his opening speech, but unfortunately I missed part of it. Will the Minister give us an update on the effectiveness of this campaign? What has the State achieved from it?

Last year, we saw the 2012 statistics from the European childhood obesity surveillance initiative, which suggested obesity among Irish children is 20% but the rate is stabilising in some groups. This is not the case among disadvantaged groups. The latest report concludes the prevalence of overweight and obese primary school children aged nine has stabilised, and among seven-year-old children prevalence appears to have fallen, but worryingly this was not observed for children attending disadvantaged schools. A study from Trinity College Dublin suggests change can also be achieved within this age group. I understand this work was presented to the special action group on obesity. How will it be progressed and what actions and steps will be taken by the Minister and the Department?

The Department of Health has worked with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on publishing a new children's code, which aims to restrict the marketing of unhealthy food and drinks until 7 p.m. At what stage of progression is the children's code? The HSE has begun work on the development of a hub and spoke model of treatment for children who are obese. How many teams are in place? Are there are waiting lists for these services?

I would have liked to say more but the bell is ringing and I must cease. I thank the Minister for taking the statements today. I ask him to reflect on the point I made earlier that we should frame this not solely on the basis of obesity, but on the basis of healthy living and eating which affects more than those who may present as obese.