Bills
1,049 bills tracked.
Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Schools submitted estimated marks instead of exam scores for 2021 Leaving Certificate due to Covid-19 closures; State Examinations Commission converted these into accredited grades.
- Teachers, tutors, and principals were protected from legal liability for providing estimated marks used in the grading process.
- Students could lose accredited grades if they provided false information; the law also regulated who could act as tutors and issued 2020 exam certificates.
Private Security Services (Amendment) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Amends the Private Security Services Act 2004 to update rules governing private security workers and their licensing requirements.
- Modifies the Enforcement of Court Orders Act 1926; specific changes not detailed in the title provided.
- Makes related legislative changes; full scope of amendments requires reviewing the enacted bill text.
Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Replaces 1941-2003 compensation system for Gardaí injured in malicious incidents with new public funding arrangement.
- Covers current and former Garda members injured or killed through deliberate acts; repeals outdated 1941 and 1945 Acts.
- Amends Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 and related legislation to support new compensation scheme.
Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Amends planning laws to allow heritage work in certain functions without standard planning permission requirements.
- Updates wildlife protection rules under 1976 and 2000 Acts and EU bird/habitat regulations for consistency.
- Modifies Broadcasting Act 2009 rules; specific changes not detailed in title alone.
Employment Permits (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 First Stage Defeated Paul Murphy
- Amends employment permit laws to strengthen protections for foreign nationals working in Ireland.
- Updates four acts: 2003 and 2006 Employment Permits Acts, 1984 Insolvency Act, and 2017 Regulations.
- Bill defeated at First Stage; specific protections proposed are not publicly detailed in available legislative records.
Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Ireland commits to becoming climate neutral by end of 2050 and must approve government climate plans to achieve this goal.
- Government sets carbon budgets and emissions limits for different economic sectors; ministers report progress to parliament's joint committee.
- Local authorities must create climate action plans and consider them when approving new developments; Climate Action Fund expanded for related spending.
Residential Tenancies Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Extends the emergency period from the 2020 Act that provided temporary protections during COVID-19 crisis.
- Amends both the Planning and Development Act 2020 and Residential Tenancies Act 2020 to implement the extension.
- Specific protections extended unclear from title alone; consult enacted text for details on tenant or landlord measures.
Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Joint adoptive parents can now choose which partner takes statutory adoption leave instead of default rules applying.
- Parental leave period extended and timeframe for taking it expanded under the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019.
- Child and Family Agency board size increases to nine members; personal injuries guidelines rules updated for courts.
Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Updates multiple criminal justice laws spanning firearms, drugs, and parole to modernise enforcement and procedures.
- Some amendments apply retrospectively in certain circumstances, affecting cases already decided or sentences already imposed.
- Repeals or amends outdated 19th-century acts (Dublin Police Magistrates 1808, Illicit Distillation 1831, Refreshment Houses 1860).
Health (Amendment) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Amends Health Act 1947 to strengthen enforcement of Covid-19 regulations, including power to make rules about disease control measures.
- Requires people entering Ireland from high-risk Covid-19 areas to quarantine in designated facilities; Minister can designate which areas apply.
- Provides exemptions: asylum seekers and unaccompanied children can use alternatives to quarantine facilities; authorities can transport people to quarantine locations.
Principles of Social Welfare Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 First Stage Defeated Seán Sherlock
- Creates a statement of principles to guide how social welfare laws are interpreted and administered by government agencies.
- Establishes a social welfare charter outlining rights to information, advocacy, and support for people applying for or receiving benefits.
- Requires government to promote awareness of social welfare entitlements and gives Citizens Information Board expanded powers to support applicants.
Land Development Agency Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Creates Land Development Agency to develop public land for housing, increase housing supply, and help local authorities with housing functions.
- Agency can acquire public land, form subsidiaries, maintain a land register, and some homes must be cost-rental or affordable housing.
- Amends planning and finance laws to give Agency development powers; transfers existing Agency staff, assets, and liabilities to this new statutory body.
Criminal Procedure Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Introduces preliminary trial hearings for certain criminal offences to clarify issues before trial begins.
- Requires specific information be provided to juries during criminal trials.
- Amends 1967, 1984, and 2010 criminal procedure laws; details of changes not specified in available information.
Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 Referendum Rejected
- Proposed constitutional amendment to add a right to care provision into Ireland's Constitution.
- Failed at referendum stage; voters rejected the proposed constitutional change in 2023.
- Specific details of the care right's scope unavailable from title alone; referendum outcome final.
Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 Referendum Rejected
- Proposed to amend Ireland's Constitution regarding family law and recognition of family structures.
- Rejected by voters in a referendum; did not pass the required approval threshold.
- Specific constitutional changes proposed are not detailed in the provided long title information.
Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) (No. 2) Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 Second Stage Defeated Eoin Ó Broin
- Delays eviction termination dates for certain tenancies between bill passing and 31 March 2024 to help tenants find alternative housing.
- Phases deferred terminations over time to reduce sudden pressure on housing services from multiple evictions occurring simultaneously.
- Applies only to specific tenancies during the emergency period; exact eligibility criteria not detailed in long title provided.
Mortgage Interest Rates Cap Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 First Stage Defeated Richard Boyd Barrett
- Bill would require Central Bank to set maximum 3% interest rate on mortgages for private homes.
- Would apply to mortgages used to buy residential properties; related measures also proposed but not detailed.
- Bill defeated at First Stage; did not progress to further debate or voting in Dáil.
Rent Reduction Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 First Stage Defeated Richard Boyd Barrett
- Amends Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to cap rents at maximum 25% of monthly household income.
- Establishes National Rent Authority to oversee and enforce new rent limits.
- Bill defeated at First Stage; did not progress to further debate or votes.
Electoral Reform (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 First Stage Withdrawn Lynn Ruane
- Amends Electoral Reform Act 2022 to require An Coimisiún Toghcháin to review Seanad electoral system, franchise rules, and voting age requirements.
- Amends Electoral Act 1997 to protect civil society organisations' freedom of association and expression, and provide free public transport on polling day.
- Bill withdrawn at First Stage; specific review timelines, franchise proposals, and transport implementation details not available from long title alone.
Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 First Stage Defeated Eoin Ó Broin
- Delays eviction notices set to end between bill passage and 31 January 2024, helping tenants find new homes during housing shortage.
- Phases evictions over time rather than all at once, reducing sudden pressure on housing services and support systems.
- Applies only to specific tenancies during emergency period; does not change general tenancy law or long-term protections.
Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Applies new rules to student accommodation tenancies: limits advance rent payment to one month unless tuition fees paid to same person.
- Caps student tenancy duration at 41 weeks maximum, unless tenant requests longer. Landlords breaching this face sanctions.
- Allows student tenants to end tenancies by notice between 1 May–1 October annually, regardless of landlord compliance with obligations.
Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Increases Court of Appeal judges and amends courts legislation; updates immigration, firearms, and criminal justice laws with minor technical changes.
- Allows Ministers to set and adjust retirement ages for public servants (prison officers, civil service, local government, judges) via regulation.
- Modifies superannuation rules for various public service schemes to align with new flexible retirement age provisions.
Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2024
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Strengthens enforcement powers for the Child and Family Agency to stop illegal early years services and penalize violations of childcare regulations.
- Brings childminding services under formal regulation for the first time and removes exemptions that previously allowed some childcare to avoid safety rules.
- Updates vetting requirements and child protection procedures across childcare laws to align with stronger enforcement and regulatory standards.
Digital Services (Levy) Bill 2024
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Media regulator can now levy digital service providers (intermediaries and hosting services) to fund its operations and working capital.
- Competition authority can levy online platform providers to cover costs of enforcing EU Digital Services Act rules in Ireland.
- Amends Broadcasting Act 2009 and Digital Services Act 2024 to enable these levies on relevant digital service providers.