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SENATOR CATHERINE NOONE says that her proposal to regulate the chimes on ice-cream vans is “about a bigger issue”.
Noone has made headlines recently by proposing a ban on Frappucinos and a lifting of rules that stop children running in the school yard.
Now, she wants to limit the amount of times an ice-cream vendor can play their jingle. Noone says that though the proposals may seem frivolous, they are part of a wider conversation on childhood obesity.
“It sounds daft, but people are starting to pick up on it as a big issue.
“The reason I raised the issue of the ice cream vans was that a woman contacted me.
“There’s a van that goes into her estate four times a day and the woman is constantly fighting with her child.”
Currently in Ireland, around 20% of children are obese, with rates tripling in the last 20 years.
Noone said that her proposal is “designed to help”, but that solving the issue “starts with education, parents attitudes”.
“It’s a huge issue. You can’t say that if kids can run in the yard or any of these small things happen it will be solved, but it’s a huge issue and it’s getting bigger.”
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Very sad for all involved. My local area is crazy with quads on both main roads and by-roads. Only a matter of time before there is a serious accident. Most are young boys on them and parents just let them.
A beach buggy should certainly not be used on a public road. They are extremely unsafe in a collision. They have no safety rating.
@Fiona deFreyne: beach buggy sounds like a toy. It’s obvious it’s a quad and kids in rural areas get to use them like cars to get around. Far too dangerous, and the parents will have to live with giving their kids (who are only above the Santa age) access to a motorised vehicle.
@Gulliver Foyle: I’m sure the parents are well aware of that without you pointing it out.
Beach buggies, quads and jeeps like Hilux’s should not be allowed on the roads, was only looking at two of these Jeep types fully kitted with killer bull bars in the last hour, not saying that this Hilux was fitted with them but they seem to be a fashion accessory these days, at the least a high category of road tax should apply to them, R.I.P. poor child.
@Charles Coughlan: good idea,a higher road tax will make them much softer in the event of a collision,
@Charles Coughlan: I did some research on ‘Bull bars’ in the early ’90′s. Even milk delivery vans were fitted with them! The CSO were no use for statistics because they only release agenda – driven sexy soundbites for the Government. Turned out the most popular 4×4′s were being fitted with ‘Bull bars’ made by companies around Dublin. Nice little remove from the manufacturers / garages (and S.I.M.I.!) Meanwhile in the U.K., the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) told me that they had a voluntary, industry – wide ban on them.
@Charles Coughlan: Jeeps like Hilux’s should not be allowed on the road..are you for real?
what idiot allowed them on that..???
@David Peate: You assume a lot. This is life changing for three families.
@David Peate: The article isn’t detailed enough to make out what exactly happened – but one idiot will always jump to conclusions. So sad, whatever occurred…
@Thomas Blackcat: cut the PC crap. No child should have access to a buggy like that and be allowed to or have the chance to take keys and bring it on the road or anywhere without an adult. It’s exactly this kind of attitude that allows scores of children to be killed on farms. A complete lack of adult supervision resulting in tragedy
@ChuckE: Where are keys mentioned?
@Thomas Blackcat: Well, we’re they on the beech buggy or not?, if they were then someone is responsible .
@Thomas Blackcat: Either they had keys or they hotwired it. Keys are far more likely, don’t you think?
@John Carberry: Perhaps. But I’ll await a more comprehensive report. Why even assume the vehicle had an engine – many beach buggies are pedal powered!?
@Thomas Blackcat: Take a hike Tom
@Thomas Blackcat: I think you’re confusing go-karts and beach buggies….
@David Peate:
I agree.
And to those who suggested they might not have been allowed –
Even if they weren’t explicitly allowed, the vehicle was left in a position where they could take it. Which amounts to the same thing as allowing them to take it and use it.
@Cian O Donoghue:
You assume a lot too…
I assumed when they “crashed into a car” was that the car was stationary and therefore probably unoccupied.
@Michael Carolan: I assumed when he said the driver of the other vehicle was uninjured, that it was occupied…
@Danny Gibson: oops!!! Should have read the full article. Lesson learned.
RIP. That was a pick up truck, not a car. Gardai quick enough to confiscate cars for no tax ….
@Anthony Halpin: nothing to do with the Gardai, it’s PSNI terrority
have your say