David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I certainly need to, because I am F-A-T, fat and I have diabetes as well. It is partly from the transplant operation I had but also partly from the fact that I am overweight. I am fat, but I hope to improve in this area.

When "Operation Transformation" was finished I suggested that we keep together as a group but include other parliamentary colleagues and have a group to advise on this issue. This was some years ago now. One of the first recommendations we made was the introduction of mandatory calorie postings on menus. However, nothing has happened. We need implementation.

There is a link between marketing and the abuse of junk food by children. There is a relationship between that abuse and childhood obesity. We need to develop a whole-school approach to tackle obesity, especially the proliferation of unhealthy food on school premises. This is mad. In educational institutions people get unhealthy food and there are machines dispensing crisps, chocolate bars and calorie-rich foods.