Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

425. To ask the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to consider a proposal to introduce a sugar tax on sweetened drinks or a fast food tax, with a view to tackling the problem of obesity, especially in children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25964/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As part of the work of the Special Action Group on Obesity, consideration was given to the imposition of a levy on Sugar Sweetened Drinks. Before any decision in the matter could be taken, the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) was requested by the Department of Health to undertake a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of a proposed levy on Sugar Sweetened Drinks (SSDs). An Obesity Policy and Action Plan is currently under development and will address a broad range of measures to reduce the level of overweight and obesity in Ireland. A proposal to introduce a levy on Sugar Sweetened Drinks remains under consideration as one measure among a suite of measures to tackle the problem.