One of my proudest achievements during my tenure as president of the GAA was, with the help of Jo Connolly, the setting up of the ASAP programme. We worked in collaboration with both the HSE and the Gardai to devise a programme that would highlight the importance of responsible alcohol consumption.

This programme reaches out to each GAA club in each county and has a designated alcohol and substance abuse officer promoting health. A Code of conduct in relation to this issue was also adopted in each club.

Another issue that I would like to tackle is childhood obesity.

With around 22 million overweight or obese children in the EU today, the aim is to instil in children an interest in the food that they eat and to make them aware of the basic principles of good nutrition. This is the responsibility first and foremost of parents – but the EU is actively playing its part in this educational campaign.

There is a growing interest in the EU in developing a community sports policy especially in the context of the obesity epidemic which is sweeping Europe at the moment.  As a former teacher, sportsman, sports administrator, coach and trainer, I will be a leader in this debate. Sport has never been properly valued in this country especially its social capital and health benefits, particularly in the fight against obesity, asthma and heart ailments.