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Cross-Party Oireachtas Group on Pregnancy and Infant Loss established

An Oireachtas Cross-Party Group on Pregnancy and Infant Loss has been established to drive meaningful action in improving services, supports and outcomes in Ireland. Bringing together members of the Oireachtas across political parties, priority areas for the Cross-Party Group include: (1) Ending preventable baby deaths, (2) Improving and standardising service provision / structures for early pregnancy loss and (3) Recognising and acknowledging pregnancy loss under 23 weeks.

The Pregnancy Loss Research Group and Féileacáin are supporting this new Group as Expert Advisors, to inform members on key research, help develop strategies and identify priorities across all forms of pregnancy and infant loss.

Speaking about the launch of the Cross-Party Group, Professor Keelin O’Donoghue, Consultant Obstetrician and Lead of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group said:

The death of a baby or the loss of a pregnancy is one of the most devastating experiences anyone will face. Progress in reduction of baby deaths has slowed over the last decade in Ireland. We lag behind other countries in prevention strategies and public health education, and we do not record miscarriages nor provide access to specialised clinics for all. As a society, we fail to acknowledge the impact of pregnancy loss on women and men in their daily lives. Together, there is much we can do to enhance services, supports and outcomes. We very much look forward to working with the Cross-Party Group to drive action across these areas.

Ireland lags behind the UK, Australia and other high income countries regarding pregnancy and infant loss-related strategies and policies.

For example, in the UK, since 2016, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Baby Loss has been developing policies to support families and to prevent or reduce the risk of baby loss, and to raise awareness of what more can be done by Government and other agencies. In 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care in England-commissioned Independent Pregnancy Loss Review Group published its report on improving the care and support available to families when baby loss occurs before 24 weeks' gestation. This has driven initiatives such as the introduction of baby loss certificates and the proposed extension of bereavement leave for people who experience the loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks.

In Australia in 2018, the Senate established the Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education to inquire into the future of stillbirth research and education in Australia. Following a public consultation process, the committee’s report led to a National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan published in 2020. More recently the Federal Government invested $9.5 million in miscarriage research and data collection in 2024 following engagement with the Early Pregnancy Loss Coalition.

According to Mairie Cregan, Founder, Féileacáin, the national charity which supports families who experience the death of a baby around the time of birth:

Féileacáin is delighted to be supporting the work of this Cross-Party Group. Stillbirth is a tragic public health issue that affects about 200 families in Ireland each year. Ireland ranks poorly when compared to other countries internationally. There is much we can do to end preventable baby deaths, and countries such as Australia and the UK have shown that this is possible, through dedicated investment in prevention strategies and in services.

The first formal meeting of the Cross-Party Group on Pregnancy and Infant Loss takes place on Tuesday 23^rd September from 13:00-14:00 in Leinster House.

Separately, the Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Féileacáin and the Miscarriage Association of Ireland will host a drop-in information session for Oireachtas members to learn more about key research, strategies and priorities from 10:00-16:30 in The Trinity Suite, Buswell’s Hotel.

Photo gallery

Five women standing outside government buildings, sun is shining

L-R: Jacinta Murphy (Féileacáin), Nina Doyle (Féileacáin), Senator Nicole Ryan (Chair, Cross-Party Oireachtas Group), Marita Hennessy (PLRG), Anne-Marie Farrell (PLRG), Professor Keelin O'Donoghue (PLRG)

Three women standing outside government buildings, sun is shining

L-R: Anne-Marie Farrell, Professor Keelin O'Donoghue, Marita Hennessy

Anne-Marie Farrell and Professor Keelin O'Donoghue pictured at a drop-in information session for members of the Oireachtas hosted by the Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Féileacáin and the Miscarriage Association in Buswell's Hotel

Range of printed materials produced by the Pregnancy Loss Research Group on display on a counter top with a glass background

A range of policy and advocacy resources produced by the Pregnancy Loss Research Group

More information

The Oireachtas Cross-Party Group on Pregnancy and Infant Loss is an informal interest group which aims to ensure that pregnancy and infant loss is central to Government policy in Ireland, by raising awareness, and informing action. Membership is open to members of Dáil Éireann or the Seanad. The Pregnancy Loss Research Group and Féileacáin are Expert Advisors to the Group.

The Pregnancy Loss Research Group leads national research to better understand pregnancy loss experiences and impacts, and the development of resources and evidence-based advice and interventions, to improve health care (quality) and health and social outcomes for women, babies and their families. This includes all types of pregnancy and infant loss, including first trimester miscarriage, second trimester miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, multiple pregnancy complications, stillbirth, termination of pregnancy, neonatal death and pregnancy after loss. Website: www.ucc.ie/pregnancyloss

Féileacáin was formed by a group of bereaved parents to offer support to anyone affected by the death of a baby around the time of birth, and the organisation is now the national charity supporting families affected by perinatal loss. Website: www.feileacain.ie

The Miscarriage Association of Ireland is a registered charity set up by and run with the support of women and men who themselves have experienced the loss of a baby through miscarriage. Website: www.miscarriage.ie

For more information about all forms of pregnancy and infant, including details of support organisations, see the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland Website: www.pregnancyandinfantloss.ie

Related policy and advocacy resources

Practical resources developed by the Pregnancy Loss Research Group (PLRG) for a range of knowledge users, including policymakers, decision-makers, clinicians, journalists and all those advocating for better care and outcomes for people who experience pregnancy loss:

Why don't we talk about pregnancy loss? An infographic outlining key statistics and areas requiring action https://www.ucc.ie/en/pregnancyloss/policyandadvocacy/whydontwetalkaboutpregnancyloss/
PLRG Policy Briefs: These briefs present research findings and recommendations to inform decision-makers and others. Recent policy briefs include ‘Recurrent Miscarriage: An evidence-informed model of care’ and ‘Pregnancy loss (<24 weeks) in workplaces: Informing policymakers on support mechanisms’. https://www.ucc.ie/en/pregnancyloss/policyandadvocacy/policybriefs/
PLRG Bingo: A new resource from the PLRG outlining common myths we hear these myths about pregnancy loss through our research, clinical and advocacy work. PLRG Bingo shines a spotlight on these myths and presents evidence as to why they are inaccurate. https://www.ucc.ie/en/pregnancy PLRG Bingoloss/policyandadvocacy/plrgbingo/

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