Bills
367 bills tracked. What do the stages mean?
Statistics (Decade of Centenaries) Bill 2020
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Aengus Ó Snodaigh
- Amends Statistics Act 1993 to give Ireland's first post-independence census special heritage status for public access.
- Releases census data for historical, genealogical, and research purposes as part of Decade of Centenaries commemorations.
- Bill lapsed during Second Stage; did not become law.
Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Bill 2020
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Eoin Ó Broin
- Amends Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 to require landlords prove compliance with minimum and fire safety standards before renting a property.
- Landlords must obtain independent inspection certificates from qualified professionals and submit them to Residential Tenancies Board during tenancy registration.
- Minister sets certification fees and can phase rollout for existing rental properties over four years.
Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Mairéad Farrell
- Extends cooling-off period for public officials from one to two years after leaving office before engaging in lobbying activities.
- Requires designated public officials to cease communication with unregistered or sanctioned lobbyists; Commission can direct cessation and determine duration.
- Makes code of conduct compliance mandatory; Commission gains power to investigate breaches and publish annual reports to Oireachtas.
Organisation of Working Time (Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2020
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Louise O'Reilly
- Adds statutory paid leave entitlement for employees affected by domestic violence to the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.
- Protects domestic violence leave from weekly working hour caps and extends unfair dismissal protections to employees taking such leave.
- Defines domestic violence, coercive control, and eligible persons; empowers Workplace Relations Commission to resolve disputes over entitlements.
Working from Home (Covid-19) Bill 2020
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Seán Sherlock
- Gives employees a legal right to disconnect: employers cannot require staff to access work emails/messages between finishing and starting times; time spent on such communications counts as working time.
- Relaxes health and safety rules for temporary home workers during Covid-19: employers meet duties by providing adequate workstations and paying tax-free allowance (amount set by Revenue), instead of ensuring home conditions meet detailed regulations.
- Requires employers to include in written employment terms their policy on out-of-hours work-related electronic communications, extending existing information disclosure obligations.
Homeless Prevention Bill 2020
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Eoin Ó Broin
- Defines persons at risk of homelessness in law and authorizes Minister and local authorities to provide preventive supports.
- Requires local authorities to assess at-risk individuals/families at least 60 days before homelessness and create prevention plans.
- Obligates local authorities to provide information and advice services to those at risk of becoming homeless.
Mental Health Parity of Esteem Bill 2020
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Mark Ward
- Places duty on Health Minister to promote mental health parity of esteem with physical health across the health system.
- Requires all health organisations to meet parity obligations for mental health services and ensure efficient, timely access to treatment.
- Aims to address systemic neglect of mental health through policy, institutional and organisational changes at all governance levels.
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Amendment) Bill 2020
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Louise O'Reilly
- Amends Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to make Covid-19 cases in workplaces notifiable to the Health and Safety Authority.
- Enables proactive monitoring of Covid-19 outbreaks in workplaces to prevent cluster development and allow rapid investigation.
- Requires workplace notification of Covid-19 incidents to protect workers in high-risk settings like meat plants and health facilities.
Sick Leave and Parental Leave (Covid-19) Bill 2020
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Alan Kelly
- Creates legal right to paid sick leave for employees after 4 weeks employment, capped at 6 continuous weeks or 30 days per 12 months, paid at normal weekly rate.
- Expands force majeure leave under Parental Leave Act 1998 to cover parents whose children cannot attend school/pre-school due to Covid-19 Government measures.
- Makes sick leave entitlements non-waivable except by collective or registered employment agreements; disputes resolved through workplace relations procedures.
Dying with Dignity Bill 2020
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Gino Kenny
- Permits medical practitioners to assist qualifying persons with terminal illnesses to end their lives, provided two doctors verify the illness is incurable, progressive, and irreversible.
- Amends Criminal Law (Suicide) Act 1993 to protect doctors and nurses from prosecution when providing assistance under this Act.
- Establishes oversight committee; allows doctors to refuse participation; requires assessment of person's decision-making capacity before assistance provided.
Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2020
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Richard Boyd Barrett
- Adds constitutional right to housing under Article 43, making it judicially enforceable rather than merely aspirational.
- Limits private property rights where necessary to protect housing rights and serve the common good.
- Requires constitutional amendment via Article 46 process; bill lapsed before progressing beyond Second Stage.
Broadcasting (Amendment) (Protection of Journalism) Bill 2019
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed David Cullinane
- Amends Broadcasting Act 2009 to make it a breach of contract or licence to prohibit National Union of Journalists members from communications media based on their occupational or employment status.
- Protects journalists from discrimination in broadcasting roles due to professional affiliation, employer, or employment status.
- Creates enforceable obligation on broadcasters holding contracts or licences under the Act not to exclude journalists for union membership or related reasons.
Rent Freeze (Fair Rent) Bill 2019
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Eoin Ó Broin
- Amends Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to freeze rents for three years on all existing and new tenancies.
- Rent freeze can only be extended by vote in the Houses of the Oireachtas; Residential Tenancies Board will index-link rents to local areas.
- Directs Minister for Finance to commission report on costs and structure of introducing refundable tax relief for tenants alongside freeze.
Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed
- Allows Broadcasting Authority to raise levy for working capital needs, not just current expenses, and extends levy to content provision contract holders to include new market entrants.
- Permits TV licence fee receipts to fund up to 50% of Broadcasting Authority expenses, with remainder from broadcaster levies, capped to ensure industry contribution.
- Creates grant scheme for journalists in local and community radio to promote professional journalistic practices, administered through Broadcasting Funding Scheme.
Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) (Amendment) Bill 2019
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Mattie McGrath
- Amends the 2000 Act to require the Minister to consider candidates' relevant knowledge, qualifications, or experience when appointing or reappointing Board members.
- Requires the Department Secretary General to apply the same consideration criteria when nominating a person to replace the Chief Surveyor if that office is vacant.
- Establishes that Board composition decisions must have regard to candidates' suitability for the Board's functions.
Regulation of Private Security Firms Bill 2019
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
- Amends Private Security Services Act 2004 to include persons enforcing court orders and repossession in regulated 'security services' definition.
- Brings court order enforcement and repossession personnel under Private Security Services Authority oversight for licensing, standards, and complaint investigation.
- Requires all entities involved in executing court orders to meet same regulatory standards as other security firms.
No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Pearse Doherty
- Requires lenders to obtain written borrower consent before selling residential mortgages to third parties, making the Central Bank's voluntary code mandatory in law.
- Mandates lenders disclose specific information to borrowers and confirm the transferee will maintain identical arrears and interest rate policies, or obtain explicit separate consent.
- Exempts transfers only in extreme cases where the lender faces serious business difficulties meeting Central Bank standards for failing institutions.
Local Government (Water Pollution) (Amendment) Bill 2018
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Martin Kenny
- Amends the 1977 Water Pollution Act to let water services authorities issue discharge licences for single-house developments.
- Allows individual homeowners or builders to obtain permission to discharge water from new houses into local water systems.
- Bill lapsed before completion; did not become law. Would have simplified discharge licensing for single residential properties.
Thirty-Seventh Amendment Of The Constitution (Economic, Social And Cultural Rights) Bill 2018
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Thomas Pringle
- Amends Article 45 of the Constitution to make economic, social and cultural rights from the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enforceable by courts, subject to progressive realisation and available resources.
- Currently these rights are not directly enforceable in Irish courts despite Ireland ratifying the treaty in 1989; this change would allow individuals to defend rights claims in court.
- Requires the State to justify budget decisions affecting housing, health, education and other ESC rights, with courts able to review whether vulnerable populations are adequately protected.
Property Services (Regulation) (Amendment) (Management Company Regulation) Bill 2018
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Darragh O'Brien
- Amends the 2011 Property Services Regulation law; specific changes not detailed in title alone—further detail needed.
- Addresses management company regulation in property services sector; practical scope and requirements unclear from title.
- Bill lapsed during Second Stage; did not become law. Status as of provided information unknown.
Urban Regeneration and Housing (Amendment) Bill 2018
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Mick Wallace
- Increases the vacant site levy and modifies how it works under the 2015 Urban Regeneration and Housing Act.
- Allows owners of vacant sites to negotiate directly with local authorities or state agencies to sell at a discounted percentage value.
- Bill lapsed at Second Stage; status unknown regarding reintroduction or successor legislation.
Management Fees (Local Property Tax) Relief Bill 2018
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Darragh O'Brien
- Amends local property tax law to partially exempt property owners in managed estates who pay management fees.
- Reduces property tax liability for residents who already pay fees for estate upkeep and maintenance.
- Bill lapsed during Second Stage; did not become law.
Residential Tenancies (Greater Security of Tenure and Rent Certainty) Bill 2018
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Jan O'Sullivan
- Extends 'landlord' definition to include receivers and persons with charges on mortgaged rental properties, ensuring they remain bound by tenancy terms and obligations.
- Limits annual rent increases in all areas to inflation rate (currently 4% in Rent Pressure Zones) and declares all remaining areas as Rent Pressure Zones for 3 years.
- Removes landlord's right to end Part Four tenancies after 6 years without grounds; prohibits termination for sale; allows refurbishment termination only if property cannot remain habitable.
Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2018
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Maureen O'Sullivan
- Amends Sexual Offences Act 2001 to give judges power to restrict travel abroad for convicted sex offenders where risk to vulnerable persons in inadequate child-protection jurisdictions exists.
- Judges assess each case individually, considering offender's risk level and rehabilitation, deciding whether to impose travel restrictions in the common good.
- Enables courts to prevent sex offenders traveling to countries without adequate child protection laws and services.