New Healthy Ireland Network Initiative Launched

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Healthy Ireland's Keith Wood have launched a new initiative aimed at boosting the national movement for health and wellbeing.

The first phase of the new Healthy Ireland Network has been established by the Council to get all types of organisations across the country to sign-up to combined efforts to improve health and wellbeing.

The Taoiseach was joined by Minister for Health Simon Harris and Minister of State Marcella Corcoran Kennedy at the event in Dublin Castle, which was attended by members of the Healthy Ireland Council and representatives from a wide range of organisations around the country.

Acknowledging the work already underway in implementing the Healthy Ireland Framework, the Taoiseach said: "The health and wellbeing of our people is our most valuable resource which is why the implementation of Healthy Ireland continues to be a priority for this Government.

"We all have a role in creating a healthier Ireland, a place where health and wellbeing is top of everyone's mind and where no-one is left behind. This new Network will be important in ensuring the Healthy Ireland message is spread, understood and acted on throughout all sectors in our society and all parts of the country."

Minister for Health Simon Harris also said: "The Healthy Ireland Framework sets out a blueprint for how we go about addressing the many public health challenges we have such as the rise in chronic diseases. These are challenges not just for the health services but for the government and country as a whole.

"We have made a good start in implementing Healthy Ireland and I wish to publicly acknowledge the commitment and contribution of other Ministers and their Departments to this agenda. However all parts of society need to be involved for health and wellbeing policies to have maximum impact and to reduce health inequalities.

"The Healthy Ireland Council and Network are so important to this. This new Network will help create a critical mass to generate a fundamental shift in how we think and act on health and wellbeing, and the many factors that can impact on people's quality of life."

The event was concluded by Keith Wood inviting everyone present to sign up to a Healthy Ireland Network 'Charter' to visibly demonstrate their support for the vision, values and aims of the Network.

The initial membership of the Healthy Ireland Network was nominated by the Healthy Ireland Council and includes a range of organisations including those representing local authorities, government departments, sports bodies, voluntary, community and charity sector organisations, cancer support organisations, Traveller support organisations, advocacy groups for older people, healthcare professional bodies, unions and professional representative bodies, business groups, educational institutions and private sector companies.

(MH)