Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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568. To ask the Minister for Health if he has established a working group on the proposal to introduce a sugar tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6090/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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There are many causes of obesity including biological, genetic, environmental, education, skills, income, employment, transport, availability of healthier foods and physical activity.

As the Deputy will be aware, I wrote to the Minister for Finance about a sugar tax before the Budget.

Taxing sugar added drinks is but one of many measures that I am addressing in the National Obesity and Action Plan which is in the final stages of its development. My Department is working on a number of measures which include legislation for calorie posting on menus, a Code of Practice for the food industry in relation to advertising, product placement and sponsorship and new healthy eating guidelines and food pyramid. The issue of reformulation of food products to reduce the sugar, fat and salt contents of food is also under active consideration by my Department.