The Irish Law:

The Equal Status Act (2000) protects people from discrimination and harassment (including sexual harassment) in the use of and access to a wide range of services including shops and restaurants. Protection for mums breastfeeding in public is provided under two of the nine discriminatory grounds covered by the Act –

The Gender and Family Status grounds.
This Act helps mums to breastfeed comfortably in public places by protecting them from being discriminated against or harassed because they are breastfeeding. (Discrimination is less favourable treatment, for example, asking someone to leave a premises because they are breastfeeding.)

The Intoxicating Liquor Act (2003) - Section 19 protects against discrimination occurring in a public house and provides access to the District Court for redress. Harassment is unwanted conduct (of a sexual nature in the case of sexual harassment) related to any of the discriminatory grounds covered by the Equal Status Act which has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the person, in this case a breastfeeding mother.

Breastfeeding is the normal and natural way to feed your baby and you should feel beautiful, proud and confident in your decision to breastfeed. There are advantages to breastfeeding for even short periods. To make the most of these advantages you should aim to:

• Breastfeed exclusively for the first six months
• Continue breastfeeding after that, for as long as you can, as part ofyour baby’s healthy diet.

Your baby can look for food or comfort anywhere and at anytime. Feel free to offer your baby a breastfeed whenever and wherever he or she needs it.

Tips for feeding in Public:

You don’t have to ask to breastfeed. You can breastfeed anywhere you and your baby want or need to.

• Wear clothes that make it easier:
  Breastfeeding tops - Boob tops are the most discreet and best we have found!
  Nursing bra
  Bring a pashmina to drape over yourself – hides everything for the early fumbly days
  Get a sling and feed your babe while in the sling – easy!
• Feed early. Don’t wait until your baby gets too hungry or distressed, thatway you’ll both be more relaxed and feeding will go more smoothly. Or it can all get a bit hassled and frassled (we’ve all been there!)
• If you feel unsure about breastfeeding outside home bring your  partner or a friend along for support until you become more confident.
• Find out if there are any restaurants, shopping centres, hotels or other places in your area that particularly welcome breastfeeding (we’re working on a list for you!)
• If you would prefer more privacy, ask if the restaurant, hotel or shopping centre has a private feeding room (not a toilet area) available for your use. Or choose a seat in a quiet corner where you can turn your back to the room.
• If you are happy to breastfeed in a public area the owner, manager or staff of these premises (on their own behalf or on behalf of another customer) are not allowed to ask you to use separate facilities, or ask you to leave.
• If you inform management and staff that you are being harassed by other customers for breastfeeding in public, they have a duty to protect you from this.

Breastfeeding makes it easy to go anywhere with your baby, particularly when you are travelling by car, bus, train or air.
You don’t have to carry feeding equipment or worry about keeping bottles fresh and germ free.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREEDOM!! Breastfeed!!