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PLRG highlights policy changes and service improvements needed for people who experience pregnancy loss under 23 weeks at Oireachtas briefing
Yesterday Professor Keelin O’Donoghue and Marita Hennessy PhD participated in an Oireachtas briefing on pregnancy loss under 23 weeks, hosted by Senator Nicole Ryan. Joined by representatives from the Miscarriage Association of Ireland and Féileacáin, the session was titled “Policy change and service improvement for people who experience pregnancy loss: An ambition for the 34th Dáil and 27th Seanad”.
In their talk, Professor O’Donoghue and Dr Hennessy highlighted three areas for political representatives to focus their efforts:
- Acknowledging and counting pregnancy loss under 23 weeks: The role of a national registration and certification system
- How we can better support workers who experience pregnancy loss under 23 weeks (including the need for statutory leave) – implementing findings from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY)-funded PLACES project
- A proposed model of miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage care in Ireland based on findings from the Health Research Board-funded RE:CURRENT project.
They also called for the establishment of an All Party Oireachtas Group on Pregnancy and Baby Loss to provide a forum to collaboratively work on these, and other, issues.
Speaking at the event, Professor O’Donoghue emphasised:
There is no ‘one thing’ we can do to foster an equitable, impactful system of care to improve the experiences and outcomes of people who experience pregnancy endings <23 weeks. It requires several actions, but we know what these are, we have the evidence, and they are all within our powers to do. We can start by making progress in the three areas focused on within this session.
The PLRG has previously attended and presented at Oireachtas briefings. In October 2024, members of the PLRG and collaborators presented findings from the PLACES project at a briefing hosted by the DCEDIY. In October 2022, representatives from the PLRG and Féileacáin presented at a briefing titled ‘Pregnancy loss matters: Evidence & impact to inform policy & practice’ focusing more on reducing perinatal mortality rates and services and supports for later pregnancy loss
Senator Ryan and colleagues recently introduced the Pregnancy Loss (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 in the Seanad. Now at Second Stage, it aims to provide for a period of paid leave for the loss of a pregnancy under 23 weeks and the establishment of an opt-in register relating to the record of pregnancy loss during this time. The Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021 also aims to provide a period of paid leave for miscarriage, and availing of reproductive healthcare; this Bill is currently at Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann.
Many thanks to Senator Ryan for hosting the briefing and to all who attended and engaged in discussions. We look forward to further exploring how we can work together, across parties, to bring about meaningful change for people who experience pregnancy loss under 23 weeks and beyond.
Senator Nicole Ryan welcoming everyone to the Oireachtas Briefing on Pregnancy Loss
Professor Keelin O’Donoghue speaking at the Oireachtas Briefing
Pictured after the Briefing, L-R: Jennifer Uí Dhúbhgáin (Chair, Miscarriage Association of Ireland, Professor Keelin O’Donoghue, Mairie Cregan (Co-Founder, Féileacáin) and Marita Hennessy PhD
More information
- Pregnancy loss (<24 weeks) in workplaces: Informing policymakers on support mechanisms. PLRG Policy Brief 14
- Recurrent Miscarriage: An evidence-informed model of care. PLRG Policy Brief 15
- Miscarriage Information Booklet
- Recurrent Miscarriage Information Booklet
- Why don't we talk about pregnancy loss? PLRG Policy Brief
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland Website
- Cork Miscarriage Website