Bills
1,049 bills tracked.
Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017
22 Jan 2021 Enacted Brendan Howlin
- Creates offences for recording, distributing or publishing intimate images without consent; protects victims' anonymity in related cases.
- Makes it illegal to send threatening or grossly offensive communications; updates harassment laws under the Non-Fatal Offences Act 1997.
- Amends Bail Act 1997 and Domestic Violence Act 2018 to strengthen protections and enforcement related to harassment and harmful communications.
Appropriation Bill 2020
22 Jan 2021 Enacted
- Allocates public money from the Central Fund to government services and purposes for 2020.
- Allows delayed return of unused capital funds to the Central Fund under Finance Act 2004 rules.
- Permits temporary advances from the Central Fund to cover government payment obligations when needed.
Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020
21 Jan 2021 Enacted
- Moves Central Mental Hospital from Dundrum to Portrane, County Dublin, including transfer of all detained persons.
- Closes Dundrum facility and repeals section 39 of Mental Treatment Act 1961; sets transitional arrangements for relocation.
- Enables legal transfer of patients lawfully detained at current hospital to new location in Portrane.
Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020
21 Jan 2021 Enacted
- Amends three Acts governing investment funds: extends Investment Limited Partnerships Act 1994, updates Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles Act 2015, and modifies Investment Funds, Companies Act 2005.
- Updates Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 Schedule 5, affecting social welfare provisions related to investment partnerships and funds.
- Specific amendments and practical effects not detailed in title alone; enactment date and detailed scope changes require full bill text review.
Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020
12 Jan 2021 Enacted
- Credit unions can hold meetings remotely and allow proxy voting during Covid-19, with Government able to extend this period by order.
- Amends Credit Union Act 1997 to temporarily suspend certain operational rules due to pandemic health risks.
- Updates Irish Fiscal Advisory Council member terms under Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012 and adjusts State loan agreements with EU.
Prohibition of Sulky-Racing Bill 2018
17 Dec 2020 First Stage Defeated Mattie McGrath
- Proposes to ban sulky racing (horse-drawn cart racing) unless the organizer obtains legal permission beforehand.
- Aimed at stopping unauthorized sulky racing events on public roads or private land without proper licensing.
- Bill was defeated at First Stage in 2018; did not proceed to further debate or enactment.
Credit Union Restructuring Board (Dissolution) Bill 2019
16 Dec 2020 Enacted
- Dissolves the Credit Union Restructuring Board and transfers its functions to the Minister for Finance.
- Amends the Credit Union and Co-operation with Overseas Regulators Act 2012; exact amendments not specified in long title.
- Makes related changes to other laws as a result of the board's dissolution and function transfer.
Deportation Moratorium (Covid-19) Bill 2020
10 Dec 2020 First Stage Defeated Frances Black
- Proposed to ban deportations from Ireland during the Covid-19 public health emergency.
- Would have prevented removal of persons from the State while Covid-19 restrictions were in place.
- Bill did not progress beyond First Stage and was defeated in the Oireachtas.
Residential Tenancies Bill 2020
9 Nov 2020 Enacted
- Temporarily modifies Residential Tenancies Act 2004 rules during Covid-19 travel restrictions to protect tenants from eviction while unable to secure alternative housing.
- Applies only when official health restrictions limit travel to, from, or within specific areas under Health Act 1947 powers.
- Addresses tenant hardship and housing stability during periods when pandemic restrictions prevent normal accommodation-finding activities.
Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020
6 Nov 2020 Enacted
- Records from the Mother and Baby Homes investigation are handed to child welfare agency and youth ministry for safekeeping and access.
- The investigation commission must submit its final report by 30 October 2020 and dissolve on 28 February 2021.
- Clarifies confidentiality rules for investigation evidence and makes a minor amendment to the Judicial Council Act 2019.
Railway Safety (Reporting And Investigation Of Serious Accidents, Accidents And Incidents Involving Certain Railways) Bill 2020
6 Nov 2020 Enacted
- Requires reporting and investigation of serious accidents, accidents, and incidents on specified railways in Ireland.
- Establishes framework for safety monitoring and incident documentation to improve railway safety standards.
- Information about specific reporting timelines, investigation procedures, and enforcement details not provided in available text.
Forestry (Planning Permission) (Amendment) Bill 2018
6 Nov 2020 Second Stage Defeated Martin Kenny
- Requires planning permission for all forestry projects over 5 hectares, changing previous exemptions under the Forestry Act 2014.
- Amends the Planning and Development Act 2000 to include new forestry permission requirements in planning law.
- Bill was defeated at Second Stage; did not proceed to further legislative consideration.
Ban on Rent Increases Bill 2020
4 Nov 2020 First Stage Defeated Eoin Ó Broin
- Freezes rent increases for all existing and new tenancies for three years by amending the Residential Tenancies Act 2004.
- Applies the freeze to both current tenants and new tenants entering leases during the three-year period.
- Bill was defeated at First Stage; did not progress through the legislative process.
Ministers and Ministers of State (Successors) Bill 2020
4 Nov 2020 First Stage Defeated Peadar Tóibín
- Ensures quick appointment of new Ministers after general elections when sitting Ministers lose Oireachtas seats.
- Applies to both Ministers and Ministers of State positions left vacant by electoral defeat.
- Bill defeated at First Stage; no law enacted from this proposal.
Ministerial Power (Repeal) (Ban Co-Living and Build to Rent) Bill 2020
3 Nov 2020 First Stage Defeated Eoin Ó Broin
- Removes ministerial power to issue planning guidelines on build-to-rent and shared accommodation housing.
- Repeals specific sections from the 2018 apartment design standards guidelines covering these housing types.
- Amends the Planning and Development Act 2000 to restrict minister's authority over these housing policies.
Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020
5 Oct 2020 Enacted
- Forestry Appeals Committee can now split into divisions to handle appeals faster, with new reporting requirements and fee-payment procedures.
- Forestry license applications for felling, afforestation, forest roads, and aerial fertilisation must be published for public access.
- Amends Agriculture Appeals Act 2001 and Forestry Act 2014 to streamline forest management processes and transparency.
Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020
18 Sep 2020 Enacted
- Gives enforcement powers to monitor bars and pubs for compliance with Covid-19 health rules under the Health Act 1947.
- Allows authorities to object to licence renewals for premises that breach Covid-19 requirements on grounds of bad character.
- Amends Health Act 1947 to create additional criminal offences for non-compliance with pandemic-related public health measures.
Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020
17 Aug 2020 Enacted
- Amends Health Act 1970 to gradually provide free GP services to all children under 13 living in Ireland.
- Changes eligibility criteria for health services under the 1970 Act; details of new criteria not specified in long title.
- Makes miscellaneous other changes to Health Act 1970; specific amendments not detailed in long title provided.
Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2020
17 Aug 2020 Enacted
- Creates new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to handle tertiary education and research policy.
- Amends 1998 Act to adjust ministerial allowances and parliamentary office arrangements related to the new department.
- Establishes statutory basis for departmental functions; exact scope of transferred powers from other departments not detailed in long title.
Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020
17 Aug 2020 Enacted
- Creates new Covid-19 welfare benefit to help people affected by pandemic economic impacts.
- Amends Social Welfare Acts to treat certain Covid-19 payments as paid social insurance contributions.
- Provides related support measures; enacted to address disease spread economic effects.
Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020
17 Aug 2020 Enacted
- Temporarily relaxes company law requirements under Companies Act 2014 and Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1893 to ease Covid-19 economic pressures; duration set by Government order.
- Allows companies to hold meetings and conduct business differently during the emergency period without standard legal procedures normally required.
- Makes further amendments to Companies Act 2014; specific changes not detailed in long title—full text needed for exact provisions affected.
Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020
17 Aug 2020 Enacted
- Extends notice periods for rent arrears evictions until 10 January 2021; freezes rent increases during same period.
- Requires landlords to notify tenants and the Residential Tenancies Board about unpaid rent through formal procedures.
- Delays publication of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Council's property valuation list; amends three existing Acts.
Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020
17 Aug 2020 Enacted
- Allows temporary coroners and deputy coroners to work during exceptional circumstances; amends Coroners Act 1962.
- Enables remote hearings, video links, and electronic statements in civil and criminal courts; updates court procedures.
- Permits State bodies and unincorporated organisations to hold remote meetings; allows documents signed in separate parts.
Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020
17 Aug 2020 Enacted
- Adjusts taxes and financial rules in response to Covid-19, including imposing, removing, or changing specific tax measures.
- Amends the Emergency Measures Act to modify employer support schemes and financial assistance programs during the pandemic.
- Makes other finance-related changes to support the economy; specific tax details and support amounts not provided in title alone.