Meath West senator leads call for miscarriage leave

A proposal to introduce paid miscarriage leave for women who lose a baby before 23 weeks has received unanimous backing from the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party, with Meath West Senator Linda Nelson Murray describing it as "a real step" towards ensuring women and families receive the support they deserve.

Senator Nelson Murray, who brought the motion before the parliamentary party this week, said current employment legislation fails to recognise the physical and emotional impact of miscarriage.

At present, women who miscarry before 23 weeks have no legal entitlement to time off work specifically to recover from their loss, while maternity leave only applies after that stage of pregnancy.

The senator, who has spoken publicly about her own experiences of pregnancy loss, said the issue was deeply personal.

"I've had multiple miscarriages myself, so I know that heartbreak firsthand. And I'm far from alone," she said.

"Thousands of women and families across Ireland go through it every year, often while trying to hold it together at work and at home like nothing's happened."

She pointed out that one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, yet there remains no statutory entitlement to miscarriage leave for women who experience pregnancy loss before 23 weeks.

Senator Nelson Murray, who is currently temporary chair of the cross-party Oireachtas Group on Pregnancy and Infant Loss, said she has spent the past year working with colleagues across the political spectrum to advance proposals for paid miscarriage leave.

The cross-party group has also worked alongside the Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Féileacáin, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke and departmental officials in developing the proposals.

Plans to introduce paid pregnancy loss leave are now being progressed by Minister Burke and are understood to have been considered by the Attorney General before being referred to the Departments of Health, Education and Public Expenditure.

If approved by Government, the proposals would mark the first time paid leave has been introduced in Ireland for women who miscarry before 23 weeks of pregnancy.

Senator Nelson Murray praised the organisations that have campaigned on the issue over many years.

"The Pregnancy Loss Research Group and Féileacáin have done incredible work. Their expertise and compassion, combined with the work of our cross-party group on pregnancy and infant loss, has got us here.

"This has been a team effort across parties and organisations, all pulling in the same direction to support families going through one of the hardest things imaginable."

She also believes legislative change could help tackle the stigma that still surrounds miscarriage.

"Miscarriage is still surrounded by silence," she said.

"Women often grieve alone because of discomfort around it, or people don't know what to say, or because there just aren't the words for this kind of loss.

"This is about sending a message—that this loss matters, that grief deserves to be recognised, and that no woman should have to go through this in silence."

Drawing on her own experience, Senator Nelson Murray said access to miscarriage leave would have made a significant difference during her own pregnancy losses.

"This is personal for me. I know the difference miscarriage leave would've made for me," she said.

"I hope every woman in Ireland who goes through this soon has the support she needs."

The proposal forms part of wider efforts by the Oireachtas Group on Pregnancy and Infant Loss to improve supports for families affected by miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death.

If brought before Cabinet and approved, Ireland would join a growing number of countries that have introduced dedicated paid leave for pregnancy loss, recognising both the physical recovery and emotional impact experienced by women and their families.