A new bill is set to offer workers paid leave for early miscarriages, fertility treatments and other reproductive issues.
The bill proposed by the Labour Party would see people offered up to 20 days paid leave where they suffer an early miscarriage or are seeking reproductive treatments such as IVF.
Labour Senator Ivana Bacik said it will be the first bill of its kind in the Republic of Ireland.
She believes that reproductive issues can be a taboo topic, and it's important for women to open up about their experiences so issues like this can be normalised.
She told Newstalk: “It is the first-ever bill to provide for specific leave or time off work to provide for treatments related to pregnancy, childbirth or assisted human reproduction – IVF treatments and so – or indeed for early miscarriage.
“Currently, where a woman miscarries any time after the 24th week of pregnancy, they are entitled to maternity leave but there is no specific leave for early miscarriage.”
Senator Bacik says regular discussion regarding women's issues is long overdue in the Oireachtas.
She said: “I think the reality is that many women simply don’t speak about these experiences.
“I think all of us will be aware through our own networks of women who have suffered early miscarriages and haven’t spoken to people about it – it is not widely known.
“I think having a bill like this in place does enable the space to open for women in particular to talk about their experiences more and for it to no longer be taboo.
“We have now come to a point where we are talking about menstruation in the Oireachtas.
“We have had debates on period poverty and period justice and that is great because for far too long, women’s health has been seen as a taboo or stigmatised issue.
“We are delighted to be able to introduce this bill today and I think it does mark an important step for women’s rights.”
Ms Bacik highlighted that the bill was inspired by an Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO).
Their survey found that women were: “taking holiday leave or unpaid leave where they were undergoing fertility treatment or where they had suffered the trauma of an early miscarriage.”
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