Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Apologies. Obviously, we have been in recess for the past week. During that time a number of things have happened and a number of those things are concerning maternal health. We bring this up week in, week out. I thank Senator Bacik for also raising the matter. I would welcome a debate on it.

In particular, I would like to raise the issue of breastfeeding rates in Ireland and also the recent appointment to Safefood of an executive from an infant formula manufacturing company.This is concerning because we have unprecedented commitments in our programme for Government around breastfeeding and maternal health. We have had a recent announcement of funding for lactation consultants across the country. We cannot give with one hand and take with the other.

I thank the 24 GPs who wrote about their concern around the recent appointment. A 2020 report inThe Lancetmedical journal found that large manufacturers of breast milk substitutes have inappropriately positioned themselves as sources of public health expertise. We need to be careful and I want to hear from the Minister as to why the appointment was made and what process was followed.

We have one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. The WHO has said breastfeeding is the most appropriate thing a state can put its money behind to promote health. However, 64% of women initiate breastfeeding when they enter hospital and only 37% leave hospital breastfeeding, a matter of days later. We have to examine why that is. Let us put money into lactation consultants to support women but let us also make sure we are appointing the correct people in the correct way to our health-promotion organisations. I would welcome a debate solely around breastfeeding or as part of a debate around maternal healthcare.

We are coming to the end of term for primary schools. More children are cycling. There were 65 bikes outside Scoil Iognáid this morning. We have to make sure that we are eliminating the need for cycling advocates all over Twitter telling us how many bikes there are and that we are putting into place all the things this Government has funded to make sure children can safely cycle or walk to school come September.