I will read a quote I have read here before: "There is a unique pain that comes from preparing a place in your heart for a child that never comes." I am chair of the cross-party group on pregnancy and infant loss, having taken over from Senator Nicole Ryan, who is on maternity leave. The cross-party group is made up of people from various parties who have come together because they appreciate the ache felt by the thousands of women across Ireland who experience miscarriage. Senators Tom Clonan and Evanne Ní Chuilinn are members of the group, along with Senator Ryan and myself.

Pregnancy loss, including miscarriage, is often not openly discussed due to a combination of factors, including societal discomfort, lack of language to express grief, fear of saying the wrong thing and the belief that sharing the news will somehow lessen the pain. One in four pregnancies ends in loss. The grieving process is completely different for everybody and affects people in completely different ways. At present, no leave is provided for under Irish law for those who suffer miscarriage. Instead, people use sick leave to take time off work. The Irish Government published a report on pregnancy loss in January 2024. This highlighted the prevalence of pregnancy loss under 24 weeks and noted that, as I said, pregnancy loss affects approximately one in four. It also noted that the majority of women of reproductive age are in paid employment. The report therefore emphasised the importance of the workplace in pregnancy loss experiences.

Over the last year, our cross-party group has worked really hard with organisations like the Pregnancy Loss Research Group and Féileacáin, and with the Department of enterprise and the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, to try to introduce pregnancy loss leave in the workplace. On behalf of our cross-party group, particularly Senator Nicole Ryan and myself, I am absolutely thrilled to be able to say that the Minister is bringing to Cabinet proposals on miscarriage leave for the women in Ireland who suffer miscarriages. Believe me, this has not come a day too soon. In fact, many women in Ireland have been looking for it for a very long time. It is very positive and welcome news. I really look forward to hearing how the proposals will proceed after being presented to Cabinet.