Cross-Party Oireachtas Group on Pregnancy and Infant Loss

The Cross-Party Oireachtas Group on Pregnancy and Infant Loss was established in June 2025 by Senator Nicole Ryan (Chair). The Pregnancy Loss Research Group and Féileacáin are Expert Advisors to the Group.

Terms of Reference

Purpose / Remit

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.

Specific aims of the Cross-Party Group

1. To provide a forum for expert collaboration with parliamentary colleagues to inform action to:

• Prevent and reduce pregnancy and infant loss
• Enhance bereavement care and supports surrounding pregnancy and infant loss
• Improve and standardise service provision / structures.

2. To work with public bodies, charities / non-governmental organisations, healthcare professionals, researchers, and people/families directly affected by pregnancy and infant loss.

3. To work within the current Oireachtas structures to raise these issues and influence action

• For example, through Parliamentary Questions, Recommendations to Committees, engaging Departmental policy units.

Membership

Open to members of Dáil Éireann or the Seanad. New members are welcome to join at any stage, by contacting the Chair.

The Group is chaired by Senator Nicole Ryan. See current list of members below.

Notetaker: Claire Lambert, Office of Pat Buckley TD.

Secretariat

Féileacáin

Expert Advisory Group

Féileacáin and the Pregnancy Loss Research Group are expert advisors to the Cross-Party Group, represented by:

• Féileacáin: Mairie Cregan, Nina Doyle
• Pregnancy Loss Research Group: Professor Keelin O'Donoghue, Anne-Marie Farrell, Marita Hennessy PhD 

The role of the Expert Advisory Group is to inform the Cross-Party Oireachtas Group on key research, help develop strategies and identify priorities.

Specific issues to be addressed by the Cross-Party Group (many are inter-linked)

1. Ending preventable baby deaths

• Public education and awareness campaigns
• Prevention strategies: risk factor education and training
• Clinical management: guideline implementation, decision support tools
• Care improvement cycle - reviews of perinatal deaths
• Research to improve care.

2. Improving & standardising service provision / structures – early pregnancy loss

• Model of Care for miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage
• Recommendations of the Standards for Early Pregnancy Units.

3. Recognising and acknowledging – pregnancy loss <23 weeks

• National data collection on pregnancy loss 
• Certificate of pregnancy and baby loss
• Statutory leave for pregnancy and baby loss.

Meetings

Meeting frequency: Four times per year.

Monthly working meetings (informal but structured) for those who are available to attend – to progress key pieces of work, share updates and respond to issues opportunities or challenges as they arise. Second Tuesday of each month, unless notified otherwise.

Invited guests/speakers: Invited to attend/contribute according to the topic in consultation with the Expert Advisory Group and the Secretariat.

Meeting location: Leinster House.

Members are asked to treat sensitive information shared during meetings as confidential.

Other Groups that the Cross-Party Group will develop relations/links with:

• Advisory Group for the National Standards for Bereavement Care following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death
• The Irish Women's Parliamentary Caucus
• The All-Party Oireachtas Interest Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
• Women’s Health Taskforce, Department of Health.

Contact details

Senator Nicole Ryan, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Email: nicole.ryan@oireachtas.ie.

Current members

News and media

Press releases

• Pregnancy Loss Research Group. (2025, September 23) Cross-Party Oireachtas Group on Pregnancy and Infant Loss established.

Radio interviews

• O’Donoghue K. “Oireachtas Group on Pregnancy and Infant Loss meet to highlight improvements in support services”. Drivetime, interviewed by Cormac O’hEadhra. RTÉ Radio 1, 23 September 2025. https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22546663/.

Further information

Please email:

• Marita Hennessy PhD: maritahennessy@ucc.ie
• Professor Keelin O'Donoghue: k.odonoghue@ucc.ie