Ireland's first National Breastfeeding Co-ordinator, Ms Maureen Fallon, has been appointed by the Minister for Health and Children.
She will advise on the effectiveness of breastfeeding policy and measures needed to increase the practice. Ireland has the lowest breastfeeding rate in Europe at 30 per cent.
Ms Fallon was the assistant director of midwifery services at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street and has worked as a public health nurse.
The appointment has been welcomed by the La Leche League of Ireland, which runs 40 breastfeeding support groups.
Its spokeswoman, Mrs Margaret McGuigan, said Norway, which had a similar breastfeeding rate, saw the number of new mothers breastfeeding rise to more than 90 per cent due in part to the appointment of a breastfeeding co-ordinator.