Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join the calls for another debate on suicide. A format similar to the one we used to discuss job creation would be particularly useful and allow us to devise action points and targets in addressing this horrible crisis.

Colleagues mentioned yesterday that this is Simon Week, an initiative of the Simon Communities of Ireland. Members may not be aware that it is also breastfeeding awareness week. The latest statistics for breastfeeding rates are stark, with Ireland very low down the table. To give one comparison, less than six out of ten mothers in this country breastfeed their babies compared with more than nine out of ten in some of the Nordic countries. While it might not be the easiest issue to discuss, it is vital that the benefits of breastfeeding are highlighted in the public sphere. An interesting statistic I came across was that Ireland was one of the largest producers of powdered milk for babies. While that is very good news for the industry, it does point to the high demand for formula in this country and the correspondingly low incidence of breastfeeding. The low rate persists despite the wealth of research showing how beneficial it is for children's development. The health service should be actively engaged in promoting breastfeeding, while acknowledging that some women will experience difficulties.