I was delighted this week to bring forward my No Wait Card to the Dáil.
For some people they just can’t wait until they get home to use the toilet, and this is particularly true for those with living with chronic and invisible health conditions, like those who have Crohn’s Disease or other medical conditions that require urgent use of a toilet.
Organisations like Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland and Spinal Injuries offer No Wait Cards, and these aim to empower individuals to request access to toilet facilities when they are in urgent need. However, these cards have no legal standing in Ireland. My Bill aims to offer a compassionate and practical solution to this, by placing No Wait Cards on a statutory footing, ensuring that where are no public toilets available, shops and businesses with a staff toilet make them available to a person with a medical condition who is in urgent need. The Bill also addresses previous concerns from businesses regarding liability under Section 3 of the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995 by excluding businesses under section 5 of that Act. There will also be no cost implications under the Bill on businesses to make any adaptations or other changes to staff toilets for the purposes of their use.
This Bill is also not just about access to toilet facilities. Fundamentally, it is about recognising the lived realities of people with chronic medical conditions. It is about creating a caring republic, and while this may seem like a very small issue, it can be life changing for so many people.
For further information and support, please visit Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland here.