Restaurants, hotels and cafes must support 'babies who lunch' - infants who are fed by breastfeeding mothers on their premises, the Government said today.
The Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Health and Children today launched the `babies who lunch' initiative at Dublin restaurant Romanza's as part of World Breastfeeding Week.
Maureen Fallon, national breastfeeding co-ordinator for the unit, said the scheme follows research which found evidence of discrimination against women who want to breastfeed in public service areas in Ireland.
"Babies can look for food anywhere and at anytime and it is imperative that mothers are made to feel comfortable enough in their surroundings to allow them to breastfeed whenever and wherever the need arises," she said.
"We want women to understand that as long as they are happy to breastfeed in a public area the owner, manager or staff members - on their own behalf or on behalf of other customers - are not permitted to ask a breastfeeding mother to use separate facilities or to ask her to leave the premises.
"It is, in fact, their duty to protect breastfeeding mothers from any unwelcome attention or comment," she said.
Many restaurants and cafes across Ireland have already signed up to the initiative and introduced a customer policy of welcoming breastfeeding mothers onto their premises and facilitating them in feeding their babies.
As part of the initiative a leaflet - Breastfeeding: Out and About - will be available from hospitals nationwide.
It aims to encourage women to feel confident in their decision to breastfeed, and outlines their right to freedom from discrimination and harassment if they do so in public.
The Health Promotion Unit wants to encourage more women in Ireland to breastfeed, as the current level of 40% is one of the lowest in Europe, and well below Norway (99%), Germany (96%) and the UK (71%).
"Breastfeeding mothers often find it easier and more convenient to go out and about because there is no need to carry feeding equipment, worry about heating bottles or keeping feeding bottles germ-free," Ms Fallon said.
"The protection offered by breastfeeding against infections and illnesses prevalent in childhood, is well-known and long established."
Recent evidence also pointed to a link between breastfeeding and health benefits stretching into adulthood, Ms Fallon said.