Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator O'Reilly for raising the very important issue of restricting digital marketing of infant formula. Research indicates that breast-feeding gives a child the optimum start in life and that increasing our breast-feeding rates will contribute to improvements in child and maternal health and can contribute to a reduction in childhood obesity and chronic diseases.

The Senator's question has highlighted the need for a regulatory framework to restrict the marketing of breast-milk substitutes, and this work will be progressed in consultation with Coimisiún na Meán and in the development of new online safety codes. The HSE's breast-feeding implementation plan runs to 2025 and the Department of Health will continue to work with the HSE's national co-ordinator in delivering on the five-point action plan.

The vision of Healthy Ireland is that everyone can enjoy physical and mental health and well-being to their full potential. The Government remains committed to improving breast-feeding rates and moving towards normalising breast-feeding within our community.Promotion of breast-feeding as part of healthy lifestyle choices will remain a priority for new policy development over the coming years.