Ireland has the lowest breastfeeding rate in Europe, according to a 2016 study published in The Lancet, ranking last out of 27 high-income countries

 

The government's action plan on this issue aims to increase breastfeeding duration rates by two percent each year for the next four years. The government's strategy involves supporting women's choice to breastfeed in the workplace, and some TDs and senators say that starts right in its own chambers.

 

Currently, the only people allowed inside the Dáil and Seanad chambers are elected members and officials, the Irish Independent reports. There is no official breastfeeding policy in the House of the Oireachtas, though, according to a spokesperson.

 

"We have no policy on breastfeeding in the chambers as it has never arisen as an issue, but as it stands, only elected members and officials are allowed in the chamber," the spokesperson told the Irish Independent.

 

There are, however, breastfeeding facilities in the Oireachtas for staff who need to breastfeed their little ones.

 

 

Senator Catherine Ardagh said that the Oireachtas still needs to become more 'woman friendly' so that mums can feel confident breastfeeding in the chambers.

 

"Unfortunately women who are elected to the Oireachtas do not have maternity leave and this needs to be corrected. Some colleagues who have had children have come back to work within a month or less and this is not fair," she told the Irish Independent.

 

"More women should be encouraged to make the choice to breastfeed and employers / workplaces should provide facilities to allow them to continue to do so when they return to work.”

 

“The Oireachtas should become more women friendly and it was good to see child care facilities opened in the last few years but we have a long way to go in relation to women to feel confident to be able to breastfeed in the chamber”.

 

Senator Ardagh also noted, “I have requested this item be on the agenda at the next Seanad Committee on Procedures and Privileges and this request has been acceded to.”

 

 

Social Democrats TD Roisin Shorthall shared her own thoughts with the Irish Independent, saying, “For sure, I think breastfeeding should be allowed in the Dáil chamber and indeed council chambers around the country."

 

The TD noted how she and others raised it as an issue for council chambers last year. This was after Cllr Jennifer Whitmore becoming the first councillor to breastfeed during a county council meeting, at Wicklow in 2016.

 

“We strongly believe that there needs to be a concerted effort to increase rates in Ireland and that i'ts important that it is seen as the norm," Shorthall added.

 

A spokesperson for the Department of Health acknowledged that the government's national maternity strategy needs to support mums' choice to breastfeed.

 

“National health policy emphasises the importance of supporting mothers who breastfeed as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland," they told the Irish Independent.

 

 

“The National Maternity Strategy 2016-2026 states that in addition to practical supports which can be provided to mothers, such as support to continue breastfeeding on return to the workplace, a broader societal change is required in order to promote a more positive culture around breastfeeding."

 

"This should support women to feel confident about their choice to breastfeed," the spokesperson continued.

 

Green party TD Catherine Martin emphasised the cultural elements that influence Irish women's choice to breast feed or not: “Why our statistics are so low for breastfeeding is because they are rooted in cultural choices.

 

"If we had this changed in our national parliament, it would be a chance to lead and change the culture and it would be a signal by our national parliament for change.”

 

What are your thoughts on this issue, mums?

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