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welcome the opportunity to address the House and to mark National Breastfeeding Week. It provides a chance to recognise the mothers, families, healthcare professionals, peer supporters and community organisations who support breastfeeding across Ireland. This year's theme is, "Every step forward: strengthening support for babies and families … theme reflects the fact that improving breastfeeding rates is not about one intervention or one service. Every positive step, from maternity care to community support, can make a real difference. Breastfeeding is an important public health issue and contributes to giving children the best possible start in life

today's debate. I welcome everybody in the Gallery who works and advocates in this area, the new parents, including those who are breastfeeding, and, most importantly, the little ones they are breastfeeding. Fourteen years ago, not in Ireland, I was canvassed by a candidate running for election … handing out all her literature while breastfeeding. That has stuck with me because I thought how cool it was. It was 14 years ago, in a different time, and it was a great example of breaking down barriers, raising awareness and normalising something that is absolutely and utterly

welcome the opportunity to mark National Breastfeeding Week and to recognise the thousands of parents, healthcare professionals, advocates and community organisations that work every day to support breastfeeding across Ireland. Like everyone else, I take the opportunity to welcome the very small visitors to the Public Gallery today … thank their parents for their ongoing advocacy and engagement on these important issues. National Breastfeeding Week is a really important opportunity, not only to celebrate breastfeeding, but also to reflect honestly on the barriers that continue to exist for families. It is an opportunity to name breastfeeding

long we have not talked about these issues. When I say “we”, I particularly include men. Not nearly enough men are supporting breastfeeding and access to breastfeeding and removing the pressure that is so often associated with it. Last Friday I had the opportunity to be involved … BreastFest. It was organised by some of the lactation consultants locally, including Roisin Sullivan, whom I know through my wife’s experience with breastfeeding. Our little girl is three years old and Aoife went to see Roisin Sullivan when she was breastfeeding. The level of support and encouragement

warmly welcome that we are having these statements today. It is the tail end of National Breastfeeding Week. I warmly welcome all our guests in the Gallery today, including those from La Leche League, Baby Feeding Law Group Ireland and Bainne Beatha. Mary Byrd has been fighting … fight for breastfeeding in this country for many years along with Dr. Liz O'Sullivan and others. I offer a heartfelt welcome to them all in coming here today. It is really important that we mark and celebrate all that is going on to promote and help women

position to donate milk to the human milk bank in Fermanagh, so I come to this discussion with some personal experience of breastfeeding but also with an understanding that every mother's experience is different and every child who is fed is different. I think that matters because … breastfeeding can be wonderful but it is also not easy and at times, it can be really challenging. It can hurt, babies can struggle to latch on and mothers can worry about supply. There can be this constant judgment depending on a woman's background and culture

also welcome everyone who has come to the Gallery for this debate on national breastfeeding week. Deputy Clarke put it quite well about how everyone’s journey is quite different with breastfeeding and we need to support women in the choices they make, remove barriers for those … Health, especially the staffing in place for the domino scheme in Cork. We know the domino scheme is found to be supportive of breastfeeding rates, but in CUH in Cork it has been seriously curtailed because of 80 nursing and midwifery vacancies. While the domino scheme remains operational

welcome all our visitors to the Gallery. We know that breastfeeding is one of the most important positive health behaviours for our newborns. I will use my time to highlight the importance of local volunteer support services. To see successful initiation of breastfeeding in our maternity hospitals alongside … hospital lactation consultant is back on duty. Unfortunately, in many cases a two-day wait or more can spell the end of breastfeeding, while interventions to establish milk supply not received in time can see mothers facing into motherhood triple feeding, an exhausting and arduous journey

want to highlight issues that have arisen in my constituency. I was contacted by a group of mothers who were worried about a breastfeeding support group in north Dublin that was due to close because of staffing pressures. I thank the Minister for contacting the HSE when … mothers should not have been put through that stress in the first place. If it were men who breastfeed, there would be a breastfeeding support group on nearly every corner. New parents have enough to worry about; whether the services they need will still be there next week

This will support research on tobacco and nicotine products with the aim of addressing our stubborn smoking rates. We are also enhancing breastfeeding supports and supporting initiatives in specialist obesity services for children and adults. I will have two strategies completed by the end of the year … breastfeeding and one on obesity. This budget represents a significant investment in prevention, public health and community well-being. It reflects our commitment to supporting children and young people, strengthening families, reducing inequalities and building healthier, stronger communities across Ireland

report, one parent said, "For me, my mental health is a current issue due to not eating well enough or taking supplements while breastfeeding as I cannot afford them so my hormones are imbalanced." Another parent referred to "Putting off dentist visits when they are long overdue because

statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and (iii) members may share time; Table 1 (d) on Thursday, Statements on National Breastfeeding Week shall be taken immediately on the conclusion of Statements on World Mental Health Day and shall not exceed 1 hour and 37 minutes

comments or unwanted touching by ambulance personnel. One told of how a paramedic made the comment, "If you need a hand with the breastfeeding, let me know". Others experienced unwanted physical contact. One woman, Hope, who has ten years' experience in the service, was dry-humped

legislation also introduced some other important improvements in workplaces. It extended the right of women returning to work from maternity leave to request breastfeeding breaks. Originally, the right had been for only six months. It is now for two years. It introduced five days' unpaid leave for medical

society. It has even tried to delete the word "woman" from maternity legislation. The HSE has used words like "chestfeeding" instead of "breastfeeding". Among the HSE literature, it has produced a document highlighting issues around cervical checks, saying that "people with a cervix" need to come

Taoiseach knows, it is very hard to get an alternative place if they lose their home. Another woman is still breastfeeding after having her newborn. There are many others with disabilities, autism and neurodiversity. When will we address the fact that instead of throwing money at developers, that

fear of the child losing that place if the family has to go into homeless accommodation. Another woman is breastfeeding and there are many others. A bus driver has been in homeless accommodation in the Celbridge area because he had to vacate the house he had rented since

minimum. It now seems that humanitarian aid is a weapon for Israel to wield. Some 71,000 children and 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza are in dire need of treatment. There is a gross contrast between an entire population being starved or on the brink

ended up discussing the work-life balance Act and the extra rights it provided through domestic violence leave and extra time for breastfeeding breaks, proposals for which we would expect broad support. I remember a young man asking me in a very sceptical tone what the point

will review early intervention services, such as tongue tie treatment and other early services for those who might have difficulty in breastfeeding as a means to prevent avoidable barriers to breastfeeding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33529/26

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the way in which the latest national data on breastfeeding initiation and continuation at three and six months compares with targets set out in the National Breastfeeding Action Plan. [2728/26

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to address the inconsistency in breastfeeding advice being given to women across the healthcare service; if any consideration has been given to standardising breastfeeding advice in order that women can rely on the information being given

Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the funding which will be provided towards the women’s health action plan in respect of breastfeeding, particularly action 7k and 8F; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55166/26

Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals who received breastfeeding supports in 2025 per public health nurse services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55167/26

Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the breastfeeding rate at the first PHN visit and the subsequent three-month PHN checks in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55169/26

Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of parents who used the ‘Ask our breastfeeding expert’ service on mychild.ie in 2024 and 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55170/26

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Passport Office will consider a passport application of a newborn baby who is breastfeeding if an emergency application is submitted should the mother need to travel for a family emergency or medical procedure; and if she will make

Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when the national breastfeeding strategy will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54674/26

Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the timeline for when her Department will develop a breastfeeding awareness campaign as per the Women’s Health Action Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54677/26

Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed the impact of overnight partner restrictions on postnatal anxiety, depression, breastfeeding, dignity, safety and maternal wellbeing; her views on whether blanket overnight restrictions on partners staying in maternity hospitals is acceptable; if exceptions will

asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE has assessed the impact of overnight partner restrictions on postnatal anxiety, depression, breastfeeding, dignity, safety and maternal wellbeing. [46462/26

Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health whether exceptions will be considered for private rooms, caesarean sections, traumatic births, anxiety, breastfeeding difficulties, mobility issues or other clinical and emotional support needs. [46507/26

asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the HSE have assessed the impact of overnight partner restrictions on postnatal anxiety, depression, breastfeeding, dignity, safety and maternal wellbeing; and her views on whether blanket overnight restrictions after childbirth are acceptable; and if she will make a statement

asked the Minister for Health whether exceptions for overnight stays for partners will be considered for private rooms, caesarean sections, traumatic births, anxiety, breastfeeding difficulties, mobility issues or other clinical and emotional support needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44911/26

Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health to examine the impact of overnight partner restrictions on postnatal anxiety, depression, breastfeeding, dignity, safety and maternal wellbeing; the plans to address overnight partner restrictions after childbirth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45232/26

asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the HSE have assessed the impact of overnight partner restrictions on postnatal anxiety, depression, breastfeeding, dignity, safety and maternal wellbeing (details supplied); if she will consider a national standard for family-centred postnatal care, including overnight partner support where

asked the Minister for Health if her Department or the HSE has assessed the impact of overnight partner restrictions on postnatal anxiety, depression, breastfeeding, dignity, safety and maternal wellbeing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44912/26

Gogarty asked the Minister for Health if exceptions to overnight partner restrictions will be considered for private rooms, caesarean sections, traumatic births, anxiety, breastfeeding difficulties, mobility issues or other clinical and emotional support needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44914/26

position regarding the estimated cost to provide midwives, paediatric nurses, healthcare assistants and other relevant front-line staff to undertake the HSEL and breastfeeding module; and whether there are plans to expand uptake of this training nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38117/26

financial supports for parents who must rely on feeding formula for babies due medical or other reasons that prevent the safe administration of breastfeeding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33527/26

Minister for Health the measures she and her Department have taken to advocate at an EU level for flexibility in the regulation of breastfeeding and the use and sale of baby formula, which can impact vulnerable families that cannot otherwise safely breastfeed; and if she will make

Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development and implementation of the updated National Breastfeeding Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27965/26

issue of providing substitution cover for primary school teachers who return to work after maternity leave and wish to avail of breastfeeding breaks; and the timeline in which this solution may be rolled out. [23625/26

asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason there is no cover provided for primary school teachers who wish to avail of breastfeeding breaks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10110/26