1128. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if her Department has received complaints from midwives, nurses or lactation consultants regarding the inclusion of a speaker (details supplied); the number of complaints received; and the actions taken in response. [64336/26]

In the last week the Department has received a surge of Parliamentary Questions and correspondence in relation to the upcoming ALCI conference. However, it has not been made known to the Department which professional groups have made these submissions as they have been submitted on an individual basis.

The Department recognises the importance of ensuring that the welfare, nutritional needs and best interests of infants remain central to all infant-feeding advice and support.

The Department of Health is not involved in organising the conference or determining its programme. As such, it would not be appropriate for the Department to comment on the content of an individual presentation. Questions regarding the programme, the evidence underpinning a session, or the professional standards applying to it would be more appropriately addressed by ALCI as the conference organiser.

The Department of Health has not provided funding for this conference or for the promotion of the practice referenced in your correspondence.

The Department remains committed to the development of evidence-informed breastfeeding policy and is currently preparing a new National Breastfeeding Strategy.

I trust this clarifies the Department’s position.