Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” published in June 2020 contained a commitment to “Work with key stakeholders to introduce a Public Health Obesity Act, including examining restrictions on promotion and advertising aimed at children”. The policy instrument for obesity in Ireland is “A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), which was launched in 2016 as part of the Healthy Ireland Framework. The OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy.

The OPAP provides for a mid-term review to be carried out. There are a number of elements which will inform the review, including an evaluation currently being carried out by the Health Research Board Centre for Health and Diet Research, University College Cork. The review will lead to a revised set of actions for the OPAP, if appropriate, for the remaining lifetime of the plan. The review provides the opportunity to consider developments and new evidence since the publication of the OPAP that will feed into the consideration of the development of a Public Health Obesity Bill. Given the multi-faceted and complex nature of the issues involved and as envisaged in the Programme for Government, extensive stakeholder consultation (including the Obesity Policy Implementation and Oversight Group) will be part of this process.