Govt may introduce fatty foods tax

The Irish Heart Foundation has welcomed news that a tax on fatty foods may be introduced.

Plans to introduce the tax are at an early stage but it is believed that Health Minister Micheál Martin is serious about implementing the tax.

The tax is in response to recent figures showing Ireland having one of the highest rates of heart disease in Europe.

The figures also reveal a 67% increase in Irish adult obesity since 1993.

Chief executive of the Irish Heart Foundation Micheal O'Shea believes a lot of consultation will have to be carried out between the medical profession and the food industry to work out how the tax should be implemented.