Debate contribution: Baby Loss Certificate Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
Debate contribution by Mr Harry Harvey on .
- MLA
- Mr Harry Harvey
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 26 May 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Baby Loss Certificate Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5582496
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Today is a deeply important and emotional moment for so many families across Northern Ireland. The approval and progression of baby loss certificates is not just a policy decision but an acknowledgement of grief, love and lives that mattered deeply to parents and families. For too long, many people who experienced pregnancy loss or baby loss felt that their heartbreak was invisible or unrecognised. Today's change helps to say clearly: your loss matters, your baby mattered and your grief is real. I am proud to stand alongside friends, family members, dedicated staff and constituents who have campaigned, shared personal stories and pushed for compassion and recognition. Their courage has helped to bring us to this point. The issue has never been about politics alone but about humanity, dignity and giving comfort to those who carry loss every single day. While no certificate can remove pain, it can provide meaningful recognition and reassurance that parents are not forgotten. I thank everyone who has supported the progress, including advocacy groups, healthcare professionals, bereaved families and colleagues across the Assembly who recognised the importance of that step. Today will bring comfort to many people across our communities. I hope that it also sends a message that Northern Ireland is listening with compassion and acting with care. While there is still more work to do to support bereaved parents, it is an important milestone and one that many families have waited a long time to see. To every parent and family who is affected by baby loss, I say this: we remember, we recognise and we stand with you.
265 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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