Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair for allowing me to contribute after the Minister of State. I thank the Minister of State for addressing the motion. I also thank my colleague, Senator Pauline O'Reilly. We need to start thinking outside the box about how to increase the breastfeeding level. Ireland is lagging behind globally, including in Europe, I suppose. In my area, Ballinasloe, a parent group called Cuidiú has started to encourage and support women, particularly first-time mothers, with breastfeeding. It is a real challenge because we do not have such support groups in every town and village across Ireland. I appreciate that the Minister of State, in his response, spoke about lactation consultants and said funding was allocated in 2021. The website www.mychild.ietargets women between 25 and 45. Sometimes the information on websites can be quite passive. There needs to be an interactive campaign for mothers of every age, particularly young mothers. The challenge is that it is such an anxious time. I can only imagine. Considering that mothers are in hospital for only a short period before being sent home, we must consider the supports they have.

I am very interested in the idea that Senator Pauline O'Reilly referred to, that is, using our secondary schools. We must consider how we can engage with young women at a very early stage. It is true that our culture in Ireland is not supportive of breastfeeding at the moment. This has been the case for far too long. Maybe there needs to be a step change in how we tackle this and engage with it. Again, it always comes down to the mother and her choice. There should be more awareness regarding the reasons for choosing breastfeeding over formula. If any mother is thinking about the natural protection breast milk affords to her child, it really has to be made clear. It is possible that engagement at an early age is a great way of doing so.

Through our advertising and the ways in which we now introduce this topic, including speaking about it in the Seanad, we are raising awareness and facilitating conversation so people can talk about the subject without fingers being pointed. We really want to be in a position in which mums can discuss this matter, make informed choices and be supported where needed along with their children.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, for speaking to us about this. We need to consider a step change.