TD Paul Murphy 
Firebrand left-wing TD Paul Murphy has contrasted the time Irish schools spend on religious and physical education, suggesting that a burgeoning obesity crisis among Irish children could be staved off by increasing time for physical exercise in the school curriculum.
“If the Government is serious about an approach in terms of a healthy lifestyle then let us have a carrot approach and a serious approach to increasing the amount of physical education in primary schools, which is on average one hour a week,” he said, challenging the planned ‘sugar tax’ as pointless and punitive towards ordinary people.
Contrast
The Dublin South-West Solidarity-People Before Profit TD said a UCD study found that primary school girls typically spend 46 minutes a week on physical education, including “the before and after bits”.
“Let us contrast that with religion, regardless of ethos, where it is two and a half hours a week,” he said, noting that Ireland is the third lowest of 37 European states for time spent on physical exercise in primary schools.
“If the Minister is serious about young people being healthy then he will significantly increase the amount of time spent on physical education in the school curriculum,” he said, calling also for an enhanced national health service, and an education and health-promotion campaign to discourage consumption of high-sugar soft drinks.
