Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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683. To ask the Minister for Health if he considers it best practice that in all specialist postgraduate exams, obesity and relevant training in behavioural change therapy become essential components, thus enhancing the knowledge and skills of physicians and other professions related to medicine in this important area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24336/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I agree that not only post graduate but also undergraduate programmes would include health and wellbeing components, in keeping with the recommendations in Healthy Ireland a Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing,which I recently launched.

The implementation of Healthy Ireland will include the prioritisation of a range of areas across the 64 actions highlighted in the report. The promotion of a skilled, diverse, cross-trained prevention work force through training and continual professional development is an action that will require a partnership approach between the relevant bodies and organisations. This will ensure that the many determinants of chronic disease and lifestyle risk factors are addressed in a way that reflects best practice and will harness the energy, creativity and expertise of everyone whose work promotes health and wellbeing.