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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Junk food marketing to children

Summary

Deputy Ó Murchú called for action on junk food advertising and publication of the obesity Bill. The Health Minister said Government was increasing Healthy Ireland funding and exploring further restrictions on marketing to children.

I wish to deal with the issue of junk food marketing and the dangers to children's health. Safefood research estimates one in 20 children on this island will die prematurely due to problems caused by being overweight. The biggest junk food brands are designing online games for young children to promote their products. Research in Britain shows children aged under 16 years there are exposed to 15.1 billion online junk ads per year. Nearly three out of four people want a ban on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children. When will the Government act and publish the public health obesity Bill promised in the programme for Government? We need an online ban on the marketing of unhealthy food, a 9 p.m. watershed and a ban on unhealthy food and drinks advertising on State-owned infrastructure and transport.

Comment on this
Catherine Connolly An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Independent

Go raibh maith agat.

Comment on this

The Government needs to rein in the junk food brands-----

Comment on this
Catherine Connolly An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Independent

I thank the Deputy but we are over time.

Comment on this

I thank the Deputy. I agree with many of the sentiments he has put forward. We are tackling it in various ways. One is a very significant increase in funding for Healthy Ireland to encourage healthy eating, healthy habits and supports for parents raising their children and forming good habits. The Deputy raises a programme for Government issue that is being looked at, and that we are exploring, about going further and bringing in curbs on some of the targeting of children for some of these foods, which are obviously very high in certain fats, salts and sugars, which we know are contributing to obesity in Ireland which we are tackling and are very open to doing more on it.

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