Jax’s Law clears first hurdle in the Dáil following campaign by Wexford mother

A proposed change to Ireland’s road traffic laws inspired by Wexford baby Jax Aylward has cleared its first stage in the Dáil.

The Road Traffic (Amendment) (Jax’s Law) Bill 2026 was introduced on Wednesday September 16 with cross-party support and progressed through First Stage without opposition.

The legislation follows a campaign led by Jax’s mother, Saoirse Aylward, after her son died following a road traffic collision on the main Rosslare to Wexford road in January 2024.

Saoirse was 31 weeks pregnant when the collision occurred and underwent an emergency Caesarean section at Wexford General Hospital. Jax was stillborn.

Earlier this year, a man was sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm to Saoirse.

However, the case exposed a gap in existing road traffic legislation because Jax could not be recognised as a separate victim of the collision.

Saoirse subsequently began campaigning for a change in the law.

If enacted, the Bill would amend careless and dangerous driving legislation to specifically recognise the loss of a pregnancy in circumstances covered by the proposed law.

The legislation uses the existing legal definition associated with stil