The Seanad has backed a Green Party motion today demanding improved education on breastfeeding, along with advertising restrictions on formula.
The motion was introduced by Green Party Senator Pauline O'Reilly, who told the upper chamber that Ireland’s breastfeeding rates are among the lowest in the world.
She said: "Only 62% of babies are breastfed at birth compared to 90% in Australia, 81% in the UK and 79% in the US. By the time babies are three months old that number has dropped to 31%, one of the lowest in Europe."
Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health Frank Feighan said the Government wasn't opposing the Private Members Motion because "it aims to promote an increase in breastfeeding rates in Ireland through a number of measures and supports."
He added: "The latest breastfeeding data from 2021 indicates that there is a 4.8% increase in the number of babies breastfed at the first public health nurse visit - 58.8% in 2021, up from 54% in 2019."
In her contribution, Ms O'Reilly said: "Access to information and supports around breastfeeding has been a huge problem for new mothers in this country, with access to qualified lactation consultants relying on a postcode lottery or the ability to pay in many cases."
The motion received cross-party support with Fine Gael's Emer Currie, Sinn Féin's Fintan Warfield and Independent Alice Mary Higgins among those who expressed their support.
The Government is not compelled to adopt a Private Members Motion, however it is open to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to take the recommendations onboard.
Numerous contributors in the Seanad debate said they recognised that some women could not breastfeed, while others did not want to, and these views always had to be recognised.
