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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Alcohol use during pregnancy

Summary

Senator Keane cites alarming research on alcohol consumption during pregnancy in Ireland, says existing health guidelines are not being followed, and requests a debate.

It is a report from the University of Cambridge out today by Dr. Linda O'Keeffe on alcohol and pregnant women - because men do not get pregnant - drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The figure is 90%. I could not believe it. Fully 90% of women drink alcohol before pregnancy and during pregnancy 82% drink. There is a mismatch with the guidelines. The guidelines from the Department of Health state that people should not drink at all. I have to raise the matter today because 45% binge-drink during pregnancy. That is a serious number. It was found that Ireland-----

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Senator Keane sounds like Deputy Catherine Byrne from the other House.

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Ireland has the highest-----

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Why not have them chained somewhere and not allow them to do anything?

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Paddy Burke An Cathaoirleach Fine Gael

Please, Senator Keane without interruption.

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Those are the figures for Ireland.

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Paddy Burke An Cathaoirleach Fine Gael

Senator, are you looking for a debate on the issue?

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I am looking for a debate on the issue. The research shows that there is a variance. This is the case in the last two studies I looked at as well. They were not that high. They were alarmingly high, but not that high. Among Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia and England, Ireland came out tops, shamefully. Those were the numbers for Ireland. I am looking for a debate, but I am also looking to include it-----

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Come on. Senator Keane is looking for a lot. She has been up for ten minutes. She should take a seat.

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Paddy Burke An Cathaoirleach Fine Gael

A question for the Leader.

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She has the whole week and we are sitting five days this week as well.

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