An Aontú TD has accused the HSE of funding a "crackpot ideology" after Cuidiú, a State-backed charity providing antenatal education, promoted a Waterford event described as a "breastfeeding/chestfeeding group". The row follows a separate controversy over a lactation conference in Galway, which organisers moved online after criticism of a speaker who had previously discussed lactation in the context of sexual fetishes, raising questions about the oversight of HSE-funded bodies operating in maternal and child health.

Peadar Tóibín TD said the HSE, which has given Cuidiú at least €30,000, was driving "insulting nonsense" and that "chestfeeding isn't a thing", calling for female-specific language to be protected. Cuidiú's website states it uses the terms "mother/mum" while acknowledging not everyone who breastfeeds identifies as a woman, describing itself as inclusive of all parents. The Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland separately paused ticket sales for its October conference in Galway over the inclusion of speaker Jacob Engelsman, who has written about lactation for "sexual gratification", before deciding the event would go ahead fully online; Tóibín has also called for an investigation into possible child protection breaches. Cuidiú and the HSE have been contacted for comment.