Vol. 523 No. 4
111 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will reconvene the national committee to promote breastfeeding as a matter of urgency in order to co-ordinate and progress the implementation of the national breastfeeding policy in view of the failure to implement the necessary measures to reach the agreed targets over the past six years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21519/00]
113 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will reconvene the national committee to promote breast feeding to co-ordinate the implementation of the national breast-feeding policy; and the reason the detailed measures proposed by the committee to implement the policy have not been put in place. [21051/00]
118 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has to reconvene the national committee to promote breast-feeding; the further plans he has to co-ordinate the implementation of the 1994 national breastfeeding policy in view of the disappointing statistics to date on achieving targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21184/00]
124 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals he has to reconvene the national committee to promote breast feeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21259/00]
127 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will reconvene the national committee to promote breastfeeding in view of the fact that targets set in the national breastfeeding policy, 1994 are not being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21293/00]
130 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will reconvene the national committee to promote breastfeeding to co-ordi nate his Department's policy on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21296/00]
132 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in relation to the 1994 national breastfeeding policy and the targets contained therein, he will outline the number of meetings of the national committee to promote breastfeeding held over the past two years; if he will reconvene the committee shortly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21299/00]
136 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures he is taking to promote breastfeeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21367/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 113, 118, 124, 127, 130, 132 and 136 together.
The strategy being pursued by the health promotion unit of my Department in relation to breastfeeding is in accordance with the recommendations of the national breastfeeding policy.
This policy has guided developments and initiatives in relation to the promotion of breastfeeding. While many recommendations have been implemented, it is acknowledged that the incidence of breastfeeding in this country continues to be lower than that of our European counterparts.
However, the health promotion strategy published in July this year calls for a more structured approach to the implementation of the recommendations set out in the national breastfeeding policy. As part of this new strategy, it is proposed to appoint a national breastfeeding co-ordinator who will advise the health promotion unit on the effectiveness of current policy actions in Ireland and on measures required to increase breastfeeding rates. I will consider what new structures may be required in this context, including the re-establishment of a national committee on breastfeeding.
