Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I shall speak to my amendment No. 123. I welcome section 46N(5) as it refers to making provision to prohibit advertising "in respect of the general public health interests of children, in particular those foods or beverages which contain fat, trans-fatty acids, salts or sugars". Our amendment No. 123 seeks to ensure that we talk about all children and not just those who have digital access.

I am conscious that I may not have enough time to respond to everything that was said by Senator Lombard. I wish to state that I defend any family's right to decide what way they want to feed their newborn baby. However, I believe restrictions need to be put in place to curtail the aggressive marketing tactics employed that are purely motivated by profit.

In response to Senator Lombard, nobody has said anything about the quality of infant formula or said it is harmful. We are saying that the marketing tactics employed by infant product companies are designed to undermine the choices made by families. We know from the latest report by UNICEF and the WHO, which have done extensive research on this matter, that infant formula companies have designed marketing tactics that play on the anxieties of families.Any of us in this House who has had a baby will know the anxieties in the early days, particularly if trying to breastfeed. The key issue here is whether we allow that to continue, or whether we make a decision as a State to try to curtail this.

I will go back to that point about standing over every family’s right to be able to choose. However, this amendment is about ensuring that there is a level playing field. Public health messaging does not stand a chance if there is relentless marketing by infant formula companies.