Bills
1,098 bills tracked. What do the stages mean?
Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2023
28 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Robert Troy
- Local authorities must acknowledge written requests within 5 days and provide substantive replies within 15–20 days, or face Ombudsman complaints.
- Members of public and public representatives can lodge complaints with the Ombudsman if local authorities fail to respond substantively.
- Local authority chief executives must appear before the Public Accounts Committee regarding financial procedures and audit matters under the Local Government Act 2001.
Housing (Housing Assistance Payment Waiting Times) (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2021
28 May 2025 Second Stage Current Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
- Reduces social housing assessment processing time to 3 weeks, halving current timeframe, by amending the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.
- Sets new 3-week statutory deadline for Housing Assistance Payment processing by local authorities, replacing previous 12-week timeframe.
- No additional exchequer costs anticipated; applies new processing deadlines to existing social housing and housing assistance schemes.
Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2021
28 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Pádraig O'Sullivan
- Excludes fixed cost-effectiveness thresholds (ICER) from assessment of orphan drugs seeking HSE reimbursement listing, preventing standard financial value metrics from disadvantaging rare-disease treatments.
- Adds new orphan drug assessment criteria to Schedule 3 requiring HSE to consider qualitative patient/clinician data, unmet medical need, and EU availability alongside quantitative evidence.
- Defines 'orphan medicinal product' under EU Regulation 141/2000 and requires HSE to apply differentiated reimbursement decision-making process specific to orphan drugs.
Information on Repairability of Certain Products Bill 2024
22 May 2025 First Stage Defeated Maurice Quinlivan
- Creates repairability labels and product information sheets for common consumer goods like laptops and washing machines, showing repair ease and spare parts availability.
- Minister can expand product scope by regulation; Environmental Protection Agency enforces compliance through directions, with appeal rights to District Court.
- Suppliers must provide labels and sheets free of charge; dealers must display them visibly. Non-compliance triggers enforcement action and prosecution.
Planning And Development (Exempted Development - External Wall Insulation) Bill 2025
22 May 2025 Second Stage Current Richard Boyd Barrett
- External wall insulation work is exempted from needing planning permission, with limited exceptions.
- Amends the Planning and Development Act 2000 to streamline insulation upgrades on buildings.
- Specific exempted circumstances not detailed in long title; exact limitations require full bill text.
Industrial Relations (Boycott of Joint Labour Committees) Bill 2025
22 May 2025 Second Stage Current George Lawlor
- Allows Labour Court to appoint employer/worker representatives to Joint Labour Committees without their organizations' cooperation if those organizations refuse or fail to consult.
- Enables Labour Court to independently formulate and adopt employment regulation orders (minimum pay/conditions) where appointment of balanced committee membership proves impracticable.
- Removes employer/worker veto over JLC establishment by allowing Court to proceed based on sector need, not organizational agreement or participation.
Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2024
22 May 2025 Report Stage Current Lisa Chambers
- Creates new criminal offence for 'catfishing'—deceptively impersonating someone online to harm or deceive them.
- Amends Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 to define and penalise catfishing as a crime.
- Makes related changes to Broadcasting Act 2009; specific penalties and enforcement mechanisms not detailed in long title.
Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2025
21 May 2025 Second Stage Current Malcolm Noonan
- Expands derelict building definition to include damaged, neglected, boarded-up, or disconnected properties; requires local authorities publish registers online and notify Minister after two years.
- Creates Town Centre First application process streamlining planning and building control approval for residential conversions, upper-floor refurbishments, and change-of-use in town centres.
- Establishes national Town Centre First Partnership office to provide guidance on refurbishment and retrofitting; requires housing department draft technical guidance for building regulations.
Trade Union Recognition Bill 2021
19 May 2025 Second Stage Defeated Richard Boyd Barrett
- Creates legal mechanism allowing unions with 20% or more member support to seek recognition by referring disputes to Labour Court.
- Labour Court investigates membership numbers and can issue Employment Regulation Orders requiring employers to negotiate with recognized unions.
- Employers must allow union representatives workplace access for member business and negotiate employment matters for union members.
Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2025
15 May 2025 Second Stage Current Darren O'Rourke
- CRU must develop a code of practice for water service outages within 6 months, covering vulnerable customers, communications plans, emergency water supplies, and compensation thresholds.
- Uisce Éireann required to develop a code of practice setting performance standards for water service outages and interruptions.
- CRU must establish a dispute resolution mechanism for customers to lodge complaints about service interruptions and outages.
Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025
14 May 2025 Second Stage Current Conor Murphy
- Adds 'socio-economic disadvantage' as a protected ground in the Employment Equality Act 1998, making it illegal to discriminate against job applicants or employees based on their area of origin or socio-economic background.
- Adds 'socio-economic disadvantage' as a protected ground in the Equal Status Act 2000, preventing discrimination in provision of goods, services, accommodation and education based on socio-economic status.
- Defines comparators and exceptions for both Acts to implement the new ground, including housing provider exemptions and clarifying when different treatment on socio-economic grounds is unlawful.
Sale of Nitrous Oxide and Related Products Bill 2024
13 May 2025 First Stage Withdrawn Mark Ward
- Restricts nitrous oxide sales to licensed wholesalers and registered retailers serving only commercial and medical users; unauthorised sales are offences.
- Prohibits selling nitrous oxide products to anyone under 18; allows gardaí to seize containers from minors in public places without criminalising possession.
- Allows gardaí to seize nitrous oxide in public places when reasonably believed misused for intoxication; establishes ministerial registers of licensed wholesalers and retailers.
Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023
13 May 2025 First Stage Withdrawn Seán Crowe
- Makes it illegal to sell nitrous oxide in any container (including online) to anyone under 18, if intended for causing intoxication.
- Gives gardaí power to seize nitrous oxide containers from children in public places reasonably believed to be misusing them for intoxication.
- Creates criminal offence punishable by class C fine or up to 12 months imprisonment under amended Child Care Act 1991.
Public Health (Restriction on Sale of Stimulant Drinks to Children) Bill 2025
9 May 2025 Second Stage Current Sharon Keogan
- Prohibits sale of stimulant drinks to under-18s; sellers can defend themselves by showing they took reasonable steps to verify age.
- Requires health warnings on product packaging and shelf labels; bans advertising targeting children and near schools/youth venues.
- Bans self-service and vending machine sales of stimulant drinks; gives HSE powers to enforce via inspections, test purchases, and fixed penalties.
Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2024
2 May 2025 Second Stage Current Gino Kenny
- Creates legal framework allowing registered medical practitioners to assist qualifying persons with terminal illness to end their lives, subject to strict conditions and safeguards.
- Requires two independent medical assessments, psychological evaluation, written declaration with witnesses, and mental capacity verification before assistance can be provided.
- Establishes Review Committee for oversight, mandates healthcare professional training and certification, permits conscientious objection by medical staff, and requires five-yearly legislative review.
Urban Tree Protection and Sites Locally Important for Ecology Bill 2023
2 May 2025 Second Stage Current Steven Matthews
- Creates new 'Sites Locally Important for Ecology Order' designation for nature site protection, with local authorities maintaining public online registers and appeals process.
- Strengthens tree protection by requiring roads authorities to prioritize preserving, lopping or trimming trees over felling, and mandates replacement of cut-down trees.
- Makes Tree Preservation Orders compulsory consideration in council plans, allows public to request order amendments or revocation, and requires arborist reports before tree removal by public bodies.
Unfair Dismissals (Increased Protections for Workers) (Amendment) Bill 2023
2 May 2025 Second Stage Current Catherine Murphy
- Expands unfair dismissal protections to all employees regardless of employment length and removes age restrictions, covering workers over 16.
- Deems dismissal of single employee for industrial action unfair; protects workers dismissed for race, sexual orientation, trade union activity, pregnancy, protected disclosures, and other protected grounds.
- Reforms compensation system: awards decided by adjudication officer or Labour Court; full reimbursement of financial losses incurred due to dismissal; decisions issued within 28 days with reasoning.
Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Colette Kelleher
- Schools must teach about Traveller culture and history to give students knowledge and understanding of the community.
- Amends Education Act 1998 to require recognised schools include Traveller studies in their curriculum and education approach.
- Aims to increase awareness and respect for Traveller heritage among Irish schoolchildren as part of their education.
Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2021
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Jennifer Whitmore
- Adds Basking Shark to Fifth Schedule of Wildlife Act 1976, making it a legally protected wild animal in Ireland.
- Makes it illegal to intentionally or recklessly injure, disturb or harass any protected wild animal, except for hunting purposes.
- Allows Minister to create a code of conduct by regulation for wildlife tourism and recreational activities, after consulting environmental groups.
International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Frances Black
- Refugees and people with subsidiary protection can apply to bring qualifying family members to Ireland, including parents, siblings, children, and grandparents.
- Expands family reunification to include wards and guardians alongside traditional relations, widening who counts as eligible family.
- Bill currently in committee stage; establishes legal framework for processing these family reunification applications.
Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current John Brady
- Requires the National Treasury Management Agency to stop investing Ireland Strategic Investment Fund assets in companies listed on UN database of firms operating in illegal Israeli settlements.
- Mandates the Agency divest from any current investments, direct or indirect, in companies on the UN settlements database.
- Requires annual reporting on compliance measures taken to meet these investment restrictions and divestment obligations.
Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Jan O'Sullivan
- Amends Housing Act 1988 to require housing authorities to recognise homeless families as a family unit when a child is involved in accommodation requests.
- Makes child welfare a paramount consideration in housing authority decisions on homeless family accommodation, including interim or urgent assistance.
- Requires housing authorities to regard protecting families and providing safe accommodation as key to supporting family functioning and child development.
Health (Waiting Lists) Bill 2024
2 May 2025 Second Stage Current David Cullinane
- Minister for Health must set specific performance targets for maximum waiting times across health and social care services, creating a legal basis for wait-time policies.
- National Treatment Purchase Fund Board expands from publishing hospital waiting lists only to collecting and publishing all health and social care waiting list data.
- Chief Executive of National Treatment Purchase Fund Board becomes accountable to the Minister for Health and to Oireachtas committees for managing the organisation.
Health (Amendment) (Professional Home Care) Bill 2020
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Colm Burke
- Amends Health Act 2007 to establish regulatory framework for professional home care providers serving adults aged 18+, including standards on training, contracts, complaints and abuse prevention.
- Extends HIQA's functions to set national standards for professional home care based on HSE 2008 guidelines, covering safety, medication handling, money management and care planning.
- Requires Social Services Inspectorate to establish registry of professional home carers and gives Minister power to make regulations applying to professional home care undertakings.