Bills
1,098 bills tracked. What do the stages mean?
Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Decisions on Supervision Measures) Bill 2019
17 Feb 2023 Enacted
- Allows Irish courts to grant bail to charged persons lawfully resident abroad, with conditions monitored in their home EU Member State instead of remand in custody.
- Enables Irish courts to recognize and monitor bail conditions for foreign-charged EU residents, with conditions adapted to Irish law where necessary, decided within 20 working days.
- Requires Central Authority (Minister for Justice) to consult with other Member States on supervision decisions, breaches, and victim risks; permits court hearings via live TV link when supervised person is abroad.
Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020
13 Dec 2022 Enacted
- Creates Irish Air Navigation Service (IANS), a new state company, to provide air navigation services separately from aviation regulation.
- Merges Commission for Aviation Regulation into Irish Aviation Authority to form single regulator for safety, security, economic regulation and consumer protection.
- Increases borrowing limit for daa and subsidiaries under Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act 1998.
Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019
15 Jul 2022 Enacted
- Authorizes Military Police to take DNA samples from persons suspected of military offences for forensic testing and to establish a DNA (Military Police) Database System administered by Forensic Science Ireland.
- Permits DNA sampling from military personnel and volunteers for investigation purposes, with safeguards including consent requirements, rank-based authorizations, and provisions for sample destruction.
- Enables use of DNA evidence and forensic samples in military courts-martial proceedings, including against persons who have since left military service within six months of cessation.
Finance Bill 2020
23 May 2022 Enacted
- Increases Universal Social Charge thresholds and extends reduced USC rate for medical card holders through 2021 tax year.
- Creates Covid Restrictions Support Scheme: businesses forced to close/significantly reduce operations claim 10% of average weekly 2019 turnover (max €5,000/week) as advance trading expense credit, October 2020 to March 2021.
- Raises tobacco tax by 50 cents per 20-cigarette pack; implements ten-year carbon tax escalation on auto fuels, gas, and solid fuel, reaching €100 per tonne CO2 by May 2030.
Planning and Development (Protect Social Housing) Bill 2020
31 Mar 2022 First Stage Defeated Chris Andrews
- Repeals section 97 subsection (3B) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, removing a specific provision governing planning permissions.
- Amends the Planning and Development Act 2000 by deleting subsection (3B) of section 97 as previously amended in 2002.
- No substantive details provided in memorandum on what subsection (3B) currently does or why its removal protects social housing.
Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019
30 Mar 2022 Enacted
- Separates qualification recognition from registration for dentists and doctors; requires language proficiency and fitness assessments between recognition and registration.
- Allows appeals to High Court for minor sanctions (advice, admonishment, censure) across all five health regulatory Acts; publishes all sanctions.
- Requires annual declarations from all registered health professionals about convictions, restrictions, or prohibitions in any jurisdiction; regulatory bodies can share information across borders.
Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019
14 Jan 2022 Enacted
- Amends the 2003 Official Languages Act to extend language rights and duties for Irish and English in public services.
- Modifies the 1976 Juries Act regarding language use in jury proceedings; specific changes not detailed in provided information.
- Introduces related provisions to support official language protections; exact scope and implementation details not specified in bill title.
Trade Union Representation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018
10 Jan 2022 First Stage Defeated David Cullinane
- Amends 1941 and 2001 labour laws to give authorised unions the right to have employer recognition for member representation in pay negotiations and disciplinary cases.
- Employers would be required to acknowledge and deal with union representatives on collective bargaining and worker disciplinary matters.
- Bill did not progress beyond First Stage introduction; was defeated and did not become law.
Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020
12 Nov 2021 Enacted
- Allows Minister for Defence to delegate operational control of Defence Forces contingents in international missions to foreign Force Commanders, with written conditions and safeguards.
- Removes legal references to enlisting minors under 18 and repeals discharge provisions for underage soldiers, aligning law with child protection obligations.
- Enables re-enlistment of qualified former Defence Forces members for specific skilled positions without standard service requirements.
Counterfeiting Bill 2020
22 Jul 2021 Enacted
- Updates criminal offences for counterfeiting euro and other currencies, expanding definitions of what constitutes counterfeiting instruments and security features under EU Directive 2014/62/EU.
- Grants Central Bank power to monitor compliance by financial institutions and other bodies with euro authenticity and fitness requirements; authorises inspections, information requests, and enforcement actions.
- Establishes statutory basis for Central Bank's National Analysis Centre for euro notes and Coin National Analysis Centre; creates offences for non-compliance with euro protection obligations.
Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019
22 Jul 2021 Enacted
- Amends Employment Equality Act 1998 to require regulations mandating certain employers publish gender pay gap data: mean/median hourly and bonus pay gaps by gender, and staff composition by gender.
- Phased rollout: regulations apply only to employers with 50+ staff initially; expanded to 150+ after 3 years and 250+ after 2 years of first regulations.
- Employers must publish reasons for any gaps and measures taken or planned to eliminate them. IHREC can seek Circuit Court orders for non-compliance; employees can complain to Workplace Relations Commission.
Public Service Pay Bill 2020
9 Jul 2021 Enacted
- Allows Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to approve public servant pay increases beyond statutory, court, or legal entitlement changes.
- Permits retrospective amendment of employment contracts to increase pay from bill enactment date, without requiring separate ministerial approval.
- Aligns repeal dates of pay restrictions across the 2009 and 2017 public service pay legislation to the bill's enactment date.
Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Bill 2018
1 Jul 2021 Enacted Victor Boyhan
- Creates new criminal offences for perjury, subornation of perjury, false statements, and fabricating evidence.
- Amends existing laws to strengthen penalties and scope of prosecutions for witness dishonesty in court.
- Enables courts to prosecute related offences tied to false evidence and witness tampering.
Planning and Development (Climate Measures) (Amendment) Bill 2019
17 Jun 2021 First Stage Withdrawn Bríd Smith
- Removes liquefied natural gas terminals and other fossil fuel projects from the list of strategic developments that can apply directly to An Bord Pleanála.
- Requires An Bord Pleanála to assess whether proposed strategic infrastructure projects align with Ireland's climate goals and reduce CO2 emissions nationally and globally.
- Allows An Bord Pleanála to consult the Environmental Protection Agency on whether projects meet climate criteria before approval.
Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Inclusive Budget Reform) Bill 2014
9 Jun 2021 First Stage Defeated Pearse Doherty
- Proposed constitutional amendment to reform Ireland's budget process, sponsored by Pearse Doherty in 2014.
- Bill did not progress beyond First Stage; defeated and did not become law.
- Specific constitutional changes intended are not detailed in the available title information provided.
Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2020
31 May 2021 Enacted
- Increases asset limit for Debt Relief Notice eligibility from €400 to €1,500; removes mortgage arrears date restriction for court review applications.
- Permits advisory meetings between debtors and insolvency practitioners to occur remotely via video technology instead of in-person.
- Allows protective certificates in Debt Settlement and Personal Insolvency Arrangements to be extended by court up to 40 days in exceptional circumstances.
Social Welfare Bill 2020
11 May 2021 Enacted
- Repeals planned increase in State Pension age; keeps it at 66 pending Commission on Pensions report.
- Reduces waiting days for Illness and Injury Benefit from 6 to 3 days; claimants qualify from fourth day.
- Removes earnings limit on One-Parent Family Payment; increases Widowed/Surviving Civil Partner Grant by €2,000.
Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020
11 May 2021 Enacted
- Sets new risk equalisation credits payable from 1 April 2021 to compensate insurers for costs of insuring older and less healthy members.
- Revises hospital utilisation credits in Schedule 3 and risk equalisation credits in Schedule 4 of the Health Insurance Act 1994 effective 1 April 2021.
- Amends stamp duty rates in the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 for periods 1 January–31 March 2021 and from 1 April 2021 onwards to fund credits.
Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Bill 2020
11 May 2021 Enacted
- Amends Planning and Development Act 2000 to require An Bord Pleanála to refuse substitute consent applications unless exceptional circumstances exist, with mandatory public participation on this question.
- Allows Government to make emergency orders extending statutory planning and building control timeframes during Covid-19 periods, with flexibility to target specific areas and provisions.
- Increases notice period for rent arrears evictions from 28 to 90 days during 11 January to 12 April 2021; prohibits rent increases during same period for tenants declaring Covid-19 hardship.
Health (Amendment) Bill 2020
11 May 2021 Enacted
- Allows fixed penalty notices for Covid-19 regulation breaches: persons can pay set fines within 28 days instead of facing prosecution.
- Introduces tiered penalties: first offence up to €1,000 or 1 month prison; second €1,500 or 3 months; third+ €2,500 or 6 months.
- Grants gardaí power to direct people to leave private dwellings or vicinity if suspected breach of dwelling event provisions occurs.
Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020
11 May 2021 Enacted
- Allows Minister for Health to make Orders and Regulations for healthcare reimbursement arrangements between Ireland and UK after transition period ends, supporting Common Travel Area maintenance.
- Enables Northern Ireland residents to claim reimbursement from Health Service Executive for necessary medical expenses incurred in EU Member States, EEA countries, and Switzerland.
- Amends tax law to extend income tax reliefs, pension scheme recognition, and other tax benefits to UK entities and residents post-transition to maintain existing arrangements for Irish taxpayers.
Children (Amendment) Bill 2020
4 May 2021 Enacted Michael McDowell
- Amends Children Act 2001 to restrict publication and broadcasting of reports or pictures that identify or could identify certain children in court proceedings.
- Applies specifically to cases covered by section 252 of the Children Act 2001, affecting how media reports such cases.
- Aims to protect child identity and privacy in legal proceedings through stricter rules on identifying information in reports and broadcasts.
Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2020
25 Mar 2021 Enacted
- Adds letting agents, virtual currency providers, and high-value art dealers as regulated entities required to apply anti-money laundering safeguards.
- Lowers the threshold for pre-paid card customer checks from €250 to €150 and bans credit institutions from creating anonymous safe-deposit boxes.
- Requires designated persons to obtain beneficial ownership information before entering business relationships and gives the Justice Minister power to define politically exposed persons.
Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2020
25 Mar 2021 Enacted
- Creates two new criminal offences: fraud affecting EU financial interests and misappropriation, replacing older fraud provisions in the 2001 Act.
- Extends criminal jurisdiction to cover cross-border VAT fraud, procurement fraud, and misuse of public funds by officials affecting EU finances.
- Enables freezing and confiscation of proceeds and assets from these offences; adds offences to Criminal Justice Act 1994 for investigative powers.