Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. First, I welcome the Minister of State and I acknowledge the work that my colleague, Senator Noone, has done in this area. She has been very active in the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, BIPA. Senator Wilson is a member of BIPA too. What is really important about BIPA is that it drills down to very local issues. It is not all about highfalutin politics. It is about our experiences in life and our shared common approach and understanding of particular issues. It was very helpful, particularly the sessions in London where we met people at the coalface of health services, education and dealing with young people. Obesity is a problem, right across the world, let alone Europe.

To continue with what Senator Wilson was saying, a multifaceted approach is needed. The approach must be across all Departments. We know that our current Taoiseach is very much into sport, health and fitness. He is very much at the forefront of all of those activities. It is very much something that he likes doing, and he has given a public face to everything that goes with health and sport. That goes for a lot of other people in the Houses. This is about implementing the policy, working with our partners in youth affairs and children's affairs. It will involve working with education, encouraging people and participating. It is about exercise. It is about the synergy with local authorities. Most local authorities are now rolling out community gyms and community health fora.RTE is playing a significant role in talking about the body, and the effects of obesity on our physical and mental health and well-being. It is a really good story and many people are on track and talking about it. I think we should encourage people to keep talking about it. I thank Senator Noone for her role in driving this issue and bringing this policy to public attention. It is about food, exercise and positive physical and mental health. I wish all involved well. Let us keep the issue on the radar.

I acknowledge the importance of bringing reports of sub-committees or other bodies that are tied into the Oireachtas to public attention. It is a good day when we do not allow such reports sit and gather dust but bring them to the Seanad, discuss them and follow up on them. It would be no harm to return to this report next year and see what progress we have made.