Vol. 494 No. 6
17 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will put in place the structures necessary to implement and monitor the policy recommendations and targets detailed in A National Breastfeeding Policy for Ireland, published in July 1994; and the reason for the delay. [18871/98]
23 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will put in place the structures necessary to implement and monitor the policy recommendations and targets detailed in A National Breastfeeding Policy for Ireland, published in July 1994; and the reason for the delay. [18872/98]
48 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will put in place the structures necessary to implement and monitor the policy recommendations and targets detailed in A National Breastfeeding Policy for Ireland, published in July 1994; and the reason for the delay. [18873/98]
58 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has for the implementation of the recommendations of the report A National Breastfeeding Policy for Ireland in view of the fact that 1 to 7 October is national breastfeeding week and Ireland has the lowest rate of breastfeeding in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18847/98]
100 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children when the structures necessary to implement and monitor the policy recommendations and targets detailed in A National Breastfeeding Policy for Ireland published in July 1994 will be implemented; and the reason for the delay. [18989/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 23, 48, 58 and 100 together.
The promotion of breastfeeding continues to be a priority for my Department and the need to increase its incidence is referred to in the national breastfeeding strategy, the health strategy, Shaping a Healthier Future, and the health promotion strategy.
The National Breastfeeding Policy for Ireland, published in 1994, recognised that the immediate support of health professionals is essential to achieving an increase in the incidence of breastfeeding. The encouragement and advice of this group is critical as they help expectant mothers form opinions both during pregnancy and immediately after birth. For these reasons, the health promotion unit of my Department provided funding in the first instance for the production of a training pack for health professionals which was developed in conjunction with the Centre for Health Promotion Studies in University College Galway and An Bord Altranais. This pack provides health professionals with the necessary expertise to encourage and assist mothers with breastfeeding and has been widely disseminated.
In addition, the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, which is a global campaign lead by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF to encourage hospitals and health workers to support mothers to breastfeed, has recently been established in Ireland. Participation in this initiative was also recommended in the National Breastfeeding Policy for Ireland.
