The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, has promised to tackle the factors which are hindering mothers breastfeeding their babies.
The Minister conceded yesterday that there were a number of social and lifestyle issues which have a bearing on Irish breastfeeding rates, the lowest in Europe.
A recent survey found only 37 per cent of Irish mothers start breastfeeding, compared to 98 per cent in Norway, 64 per cent in the US, 99 per cent in Greece and 71 per cent in the UK.
One of the factors the Minister singled out was the current "incompatibility" between breastfeeding and the mother's economic need to return to work.
"Given that the health advantages of breastfeeding increase the longer it is continued, we need to focus on this area," he said.
Critically, Mr Martin said continuation of breastfeeding made good economic sense for employers as research showed women employees who breastfeed are three times less likely to be absent from work to care for a sick child. There is also greater productivity and better staff morale in these companies also, he said.
Today marks the start of National Breastfeeding Week during which efforts will made through TV advertising and public information campaigns to increase awareness of the benefits to mother and baby of breastfeeding. Babies who are breastfed are less likely to be hospitalised with gastroenteritis, chest, ear or urinary infections.
Breastfeeding in infancy also offers some protection against diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and allergic conditions like asthma and eczema later in life. Mothers are also at a decreased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.