Debate contribution: Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill: Final Stage

Debate contribution by Miss Deirdre Hargey on 2 December 2025.

MLA

Miss Deirdre Hargey

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

2 December 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill: Final Stage

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5271842

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I echo the sentiments of those Members who have spoken. It is great that we are at the Final Stage of this important piece of legislation. It has progressed at pace. The Bill makes temporary provisions permanent, which I know that Paul Frew will be delighted about, and it builds on those provisions to ensure that we have a progressive and, most importantly, as the Minister said, compassionate piece of legislation. We have all listened to the lived experiences of women in particular and to those of individual family members from whom we heard about the wider ripple effect that a loss can have. Good work has been done through listening to those people and making sure that we have legislation that is fit for purpose. Good work has also been done between the Minister and the Committee, as well as in the Chamber when the Bill was debated in each of its iterations. Importantly, the legislation recognises loss. That was one of the issues that we heard about from families, particularly the women who came forward. I can reflect on my family. My mother lost a baby 12 hours after he was born, and she has a baby loss certificate for him, but she does not have certificates for the miscarriages and losses that she had before the end of pregnancy. That is one illustration, and I am sure that there is not one individual in the Chamber and beyond who has not been touched by these issues. The legislation can make a huge difference across our communities. The introduction of the baby loss certificate scheme will be broadly welcomed. I recognise that the Minister said this morning that he is going to move at pace to ensure that he brings forward the necessary regulations and, importantly, that he is working with the baby loss organisations and others that support those organisations and families during their time of need. Again, I recognise the stage that we are at. I commend the work of every MLA in the Finance Committee, and, importantly, the Minister, who has brought the legislation to this stage. At the Bill's Further Consideration Stage, I reflected on the fact that we come from a history of women across this island who were stigmatised. Today is a good day for those women. We are starting to break down that stigma and meet their needs. Again, I commend the Bill at its Final Stage.

406 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:06 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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