Public breastfeeding draws complaints

THERE have been some worrying episodes where women have been discriminated against for breastfeeding in restaurants, hotels and shopping centres, national breastfeeding coordinator Maureen Fallon said yesterday.

The Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Health and Children receives one to two complaints from breastfeeding mothers every month that they have been asked to move or leave public service areas. “While research shows that most Irish people are very accepting of mother’s breastfeeding outside of the home, there have been some worrying episodes of discrimination in public services areas,” said Ms Fallon.

Breastfeeding mothers are protected under the Equal Status Act and the Equality Authority has dealt with a small number of cases where such women have been discriminated against in public service areas.