Healthcare Policy
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-26
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Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (FF), Labour Panel

I sincerely thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter today. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, for coming to the House to take the debate. I rise today to highlight the urgent and ongoing challenges faced by people in Ireland living with inflammatory bowel disease, particularly Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. I call for action to address gaps in awareness, services and financial supports. Last week marked world IBD day, a day to raise awareness and give a voice to those living with these conditions. For many this is not something they think about once a year but their reality every single day.
I will begin with real story. A member of my office, Jason Dyland, began experiencing severe abdominal pain and weight loss two years ago. Like many people he initially hoped it would pass but it did not. What followed was a long and difficult journey, multiple GP visits, multiple scans and tests and multiple hospital admissions. Despite this, many results came back inconclusive and at times he felt dismissed. Many thought he was faking illness when in reality he was faking being well. Eventually he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. His experience is not unique and reflects a wider problem in how we diagnose and support people with IBD.
Inflammatory bowel disease affects at least 40,000 people in Ireland. It is a chronic lifelong condition that is often invisible but deeply debilitating. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, fatigue and urgent frequent use of the bathroom. On their worst days people may need to use the bathroom more than ten times. It is often described as living with food poisoning every day. Diagnosis can take far too long. Many patients experience delays and a significant number end up in emergency departments before receiving answers. This points to clear gaps in early detection and awareness.
Beyond the physical symptoms the emotional toll is significant. This is not an easy condition to talk about; there is stigma, embarrassment and isolation. Many people struggle with anxiety and depression yet access to mental health supports remains limited. There are also everyday challenges that many of us rarely consider. Leaving the house, going to work or travelling can require careful planning around something as basic as access to a toilet. Most patients believe our public spaces do not adequately meet these needs. This impacts people's independence and their quality of life. The healthcare gaps are equally concerning. Patients report difficulty in accessing specialist supports such as dieticians and appropriate follow-up care. Confidence in primary care is mixed and people often spend significant time navigating the system without feeling fully supported.
One of the most pressing issues is the financial burden. Despite being serious lifelong conditions, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are not covered under the long-term illness scheme. As a result, many patients face substantial out-of-pocket costs for education and care, often running into thousands of euro each year. A significant number experience financial hardship and some are forced to delay treatment due to cost. This is deeply concerning and very unfair.
IBD also affects people during key stages of life, particularly young adulthood. It has a real impact on education, employment and career progression. Many are forced to reduce hours, change roles or pass on opportunities because of fatigue and unpredictable symptoms. Today I ask for more than an acknowledgement; I ask for action. We need to see earlier and more efficient diagnosis pathways, greater awareness and understanding of IBD, improved access to specialist and mental health supports, better public infrastructure, particularly access to toilets and, critically, a review of financial supports, including consideration of including IBD in the long-term illness scheme.

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Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted.

Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-26/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-26