Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of obesity, on which matter there has been much discussion. Someone approached me recently with a concern about vending machines in hospitals. In one case, the machine was within a short distance of a children's unit. Available in it were all sorts of chocolates, sweets, etc. The message on obesity that we hope to send, in health care facilities in particular, is a positive one. The hospital's excuse for needing a vending machine is that it generates money for the hospital.

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Health to ensure that the HSE conducts an audit of the number of vending machines in hospitals, the incomes they generate and how that income can be replaced? I am not saying that we should rule vending machines out completely, but that they should at least provide food that is healthy and good for patients and visitors. It is of serious concern that we are spending money trying to educate people on obesity on the one hand while on the other providing vending machines that do not supply healthy food for those who need proper care and attention. I ask that this matter be given priority now that there is a little more money available for the health sector. Hospitals should not have to depend on income from this source. If they insist on having machines, a directive should be issued to the effect that any money earned from them revert to the HSE directly rather than to the hospitals themselves.