Calls for more ‘dignity and access’ to toilets for those with chronic illness

Labour County Councillor Martin Farren has called for urgent action to ensure people with chronic and invisible illnesses can access toilet facilities when they need them.

The Moville politician says compassionate change is urgently needed, as access is frequently denied to basic facilities.

In Ireland, ‘No Wait’ or ‘Can't Wait’ cards are used by individuals with chronic, invisible illnesses (like IBD, Crohn’s, or Colitis) to request immediate access to staff/private toilets in businesses.

While not yet legally binding, they serve as a discreet, widely supported, and essential communication tool.

Labour’s Equal Status (Access to Toilet Facilities) Bill, 2025, aims to change this by placing ‘No Wait Cards’ on a statutory footing, ensuring that retail shops and businesses with staff toilets make them available to those who need them.

Cllr Farren warns that the absence of clear protections is causing real distress for people across Inishowen and beyond.

“For many people in Inishowen, living with chronic or invisible illnesses, access to a toilet is not a convenience; it is a necessity. Yet time and again, people are being turned away from shops, cafés and public buildings, forced to explain deeply personal medical issues just to meet a basic human need.”

“No Wait Cards already exist and are used by people with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, spinal injuries and other serious health issues. The problem is that these cards have no legal standing, leaving people vulnerable to embarrassment, anxiety and, in some cases, serious health consequences.”

“I have spoken to residents in Inishowen who have to plan their days around where toilets might be available, who avoid town centres altogether, or who cut visits short out of fear they will not be accommodated. That is not dignity. That is exclusion, and it is happening every day.”

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Cllr Farren says the issue disproportionately affects older people, people with disabilities and those managing long-term health conditions.

“In a modern, inclusive society, people should not be left feeling ashamed or unwelcome in their own town simply because they need access to a toilet.”

“County Donegal in general, and Inishowen, in particular, suffer from a shortage of public toilets, and most people have to depend on facilities in hotels and bars. Regular vandalism sees public toilets frequently closed for repairs”.

“There is a simple and compassionate solution. Giving clear legal backing to ‘No Wait Cards’ would remove uncertainty for businesses while giving reassurance and protection to those who need it most. That’s why the Labour Party has raised this in the Dáil.”

Cllr Farren added: “This is also about awareness. Many people do not realise how common these conditions are, or how debilitating a lack of access can be. By acting now, we can send a clear message that compassion and common sense still matter.”

“I’m calling for our local Oireachtas members to support measures that place ‘No Wait Cards’ on a clear legal footing and to work with local businesses, disability groups and healthcare organisations to ensure access is inclusive for everyone.”