The Department of Health is to consider mandatory labelling for alcohol containers with a health warning about the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
The State's chief medical officer (CMO) has concluded that alcohol consumption by pregnant women poses a risk to the foetus and that there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption in pregnancy.
Chief Medical Officer Dr James Kiely
In a statement today, the Department of Health said the CMO Dr James Kiely was now "providing unambiguous advice in relation to alcohol consumption and pregnancy".
"Given the harmful drinking patterns in Ireland and the propensity to 'binge drink', there is a substantial risk of neurological damage to the foetus resulting in Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)," Dr Kiely said.
"Alcohol offers no benefits to pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, it is in the child's best interest for a pregnant woman not to drink alcohol during pregnancy."
Children suffering from FASD can show signs of behavioural, intellectual and physical difficulties including learning difficulties, poor language skills, poor memory skills and attention problems.
The Department of Health said it will now begin a consultation process on a health warning about drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
The Health Service Executive will also begin updating and sending out information material to include the CMO's advice. The HSE will also begin developing education initiatives for health professionals.
Minister for Health Mary Harney had asked the CMO to examine the issue of alcohol consumption during pregnancy earlier this year after a study for the Coombe Women's Hospital found that most pregnant women drink alcohol.
The study (for the years 1988-2005) found that one in 10 women reported drinking more than six units of alcohol per week in pregnancy, and that this pattern was more pronounced in younger women.
Marion Rackard, Alcohol Action Ireland
As part of his review, the CMO examined available international evidence, including that from the Surgeon General in the United States and, more recently, from the Department of Health in Britain.
Minister for Health Promotion and Food Safety Pat the Cope Gallagher said today: "As the evidence does not specify a safe level of alcohol consumption, the best advice to women is not to consume alcohol if pregnant or trying to conceive."
Non-profit lobby group Alcohol Action Ireland, set up to voice concerns about the rise in alcohol consumption in Ireland, welcomed today's statement from the CMO.
Executive director Marion Rackard said: "All parents wish to protect the health and well being of their unborn child, and this information reinforces the important message that drinking during pregnancy should be avoided."