Health conference: Tackling the obesity epidemic will be the principal national public health priority once the workplace smoking ban is implemented, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, has said.
In an interview with The Irish Times on the eve of the first major health conference of the Republic's EU presidency - 'Promoting Heart Health' - the Minister said tackling obesity would be "a much more complex process than the smoking issue".
He added: "We need to engage with the food industry and bring them to the table."
He confirmed a national obesity strategy would be published "soon" and the Department of Health is compiling membership of an obesity taskforce to include medical, physical education, sport as well as food industry representatives.
Rejecting suggestions of a "fat police", Mr Martin said he would approach the obesity issue from an educational perspective. "It is very important that we take an intersectoral approach. This is as much about the Department of the Environment and the Department of Education as it is about Health. For example, introducing national play facilities for children will be an important element in the obesity strategy."
The aim of the EU conference, which begins in Cork today, is to reach European agreement on the most effective strategies for the promotion of cardiovascular health. Organised in partnership with the European Society of Cardiology, the European Heart Network and the Irish Cardiac Society, it will be addressed by experts including Prof Guy de Backer of the Ghent University Hospital, Belgium and Dr Emer Shelley, the National Heart Health Adviser with the Department of Health.
The experts will lead discussions aimed at agreeing recommendations for a comprehensive cardiovascular health policy at EU level.
Asked what he hoped would emerge from the Promoting Heart Health conference, Mr Martin said he would like to see a consensus on the broad principles governing a reduction in heart disease.