Written answers

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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2735. To ask the Minister for Health the status of Ireland’s progress on implementing via legislation the WHO Code of Marketing on Breast-milk Substitutes; and the reason there has been limited progress made in this regard since 2013. [38447/21]

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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3171. To ask the Minister for Health the status of Ireland’s progress on implementing, via legislation, the WHO Code of Marketing on Breast-Milk Substitutes; the reason there has been no progress made in this regard since 2013; his views on the reasons for the delay in adopting into domestic law the provisions of the WHO code in its entirety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40574/21]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2735 and 3171 together.

As the HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021 is an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

I can say however that promoting an increase in the number of new mothers breastfeeding is a priority in the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action plan 2021-2025. Infant formula is needed as not all babies are breastfed. 2021 is the year of the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes which is aimed at protecting children and families from inappropriate marketing of breastmilk substitute products. The Code covers infant formula products up to the age of 3 years.

My Department works closely with the HSE National Breast Feeding Co-ordinator, who has responsibility for the implementation of the HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021. I have been advised that the HSE has established the National Breastfeeding Implementation Group to progress the actions. One of these is reviewing the Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes in public health services and this is at final draft stage and is due for implementation, across all health services in 2021.

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