Bills
95 bills tracked. What do the stages mean?
Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2023
28 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Catherine Ardagh
- Creates an Advisory Committee to recommend who qualifies for government financial help with fertility treatments.
- Committee will advise on eligibility criteria for assisted human reproduction treatment funding assistance.
- Bill establishes governance structure for managing public funding decisions on fertility treatment access.
Sex Offenders (Amendment) (Coercive Control) Bill 2023
28 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Fiona O'Loughlin
- Amends Sex Offenders Act 2001 to require persons convicted of coercive control to notify gardaí of their name, address, and any changes to these details.
- Allows senior gardaí to seek court orders requiring post-release supervision of coercive control offenders by Probation and Welfare Service if their behaviour poses serious harm risk.
- Requires convicted coercive control offenders to inform prospective employers of conviction when applying for jobs involving unsupervised access to children.
Control of Dogs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024
28 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Erin McGreehan
- Creates dog control notices to enforce leash requirements and legal sanctions against owners failing to control dogs, addressing livestock attacks.
- Mandates local authorities maintain a dog licensing database and allows notices excluding dogs from certain premises.
- Amends Local Government Act to designate public places where dogs may be off-leash; requires insurers to verify dog microchip registration before issuing policies.
Curragh of Kildare (Amendment) Bill 2022
28 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Fiona O'Loughlin
- Amends 1961 Curragh of Kildare Act to allow Minister to issue licences for long-term occupation of Curragh land.
- Licensees can occupy specific Curragh areas for defined periods under the new licensing system.
- Establishes framework for managing Curragh use and occupation; related provisions to be detailed in final Act.
Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill 2019
28 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Robbie Gallagher
- Creates mandatory 12-month prison sentence for assaulting emergency service workers (Garda, firefighters, ambulance staff, Defence Forces); increases to 2 years on indictment, extendable to 7 years.
- Introduces new crime of ramming emergency services vehicles with mandatory 12-month prison on summary conviction, 2 years on indictment, extendable to 10 years.
- Applies whether vehicle was marked or unmarked, whether anyone was injured, and regardless of offender's location or personnel proximity at time of incident.
Gradam an Uachtaráin Bill 2023
21 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Sharon Keogan
- Creates a new state honour called 'Gradam an Uachtaráin' to recognise exceptional citizen achievements and outstanding contributions.
- President will have power to confer this honour; bill sets out rules for how awards are granted and managed.
- Bill currently at Committee Stage; specific eligibility criteria and selection process details not provided in long title.
Animal Health and Welfare (Dogs) Bill 2022
21 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Paul Gavan
- Allows authorities to rehome seized dogs after detention, rather than housing them in kennels during court proceedings that can take months or years.
- Requires dog license holders to have microchipped dogs and provide quarterly reports to local authorities listing microchip identifiers of all dogs kept.
- Increases penalties for dog licensing offenses to fines up to €250,000 or up to 5 years imprisonment, and allows courts to order dog forfeiture.
Domestic Violence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024
5 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Tom Clonan
- Amends the 2018 Domestic Violence Act to restrict who can be present during court proceedings in domestic violence cases.
- Aims to protect privacy and safety of domestic violence victims by limiting courtroom access during these sensitive hearings.
- Currently in Committee Stage; specific restrictions being debated but not yet finalized in law.
Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017
5 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Paul Daly
- Creates new offence of interfering with life-saving equipment like defibrillators and lifebuoys, with penalties up to €50,000 fine or 5 years imprisonment.
- Exempts routine maintenance/testing and removal during notified medical emergencies reported to Emergency Services from the offence.
- Applies Fines Payment and Recovery Act 2014 to ensure financial penalties are collected, including attachment to future earnings.
Farm Safety Agency Bill 2018
5 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Paul Daly
- Creates Farm Safety Agency within Health and Safety Authority to oversee farm safety standards and regulations.
- Amends Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to define Agency's functions and responsibilities.
- Bill is at Committee Stage; specific powers, funding, and enforcement mechanisms not detailed in title alone.
Community Participation (Disability) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019
5 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current John Dolan
- Requires local authorities to design playgrounds and play equipment using Universal Design principles, enabling children with disabilities to play alongside peers.
- Mandates private bus operators on public routes maintain or enhance accessibility standards equal to public operators, increasing transport access for disabled people.
- Establishes statutory personal advocacy service with appointed Director to help disabled people access social services, and requires accessible changing facilities in large public buildings.
Climate Action and Biodiversity (Mandates of Certain Organisations) Bill 2023
5 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Alice-Mary Higgins
- Amends the Turf Development Act 1946 to add climate action and biodiversity protection to Bord na Móna's official mandate and functions.
- Amends the Forestry Act 1988 to add climate action and biodiversity protection to Coillte's official mandate and functions.
- Changes what these organisations are legally required to pursue, embedding environmental goals into their core responsibilities.
Adult Safeguarding Bill 2017
5 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Marie-Louise O'Donnell
- Creates National Adult Safeguarding Authority to oversee protection of vulnerable adults from abuse or harm.
- Requires certain professionals to report concerns about at-risk adults to the new Authority in specified circumstances.
- Establishes framework for care and protection of adults vulnerable to abuse; currently in parliamentary committee review.
Companies (Emission Reporting) Bill 2021
5 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Lynn Ruane
- Companies with 50+ employees must publicly disclose annual greenhouse gas emissions from Irish operations to the Minister; phased introduction by company size.
- Non-compliance or false disclosures become criminal offences prosecutable by Director of Corporate Enforcement; companies must make reasonable efforts to reduce emissions.
- Amends Climate Action Act 2015 to include public bodies in reporting; amends Companies Act 2014 to require directors' reports include emission disclosures.
Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Agreement on a Unified Patent Court) Bill 2024
20 Feb 2025 Committee Stage Current
- Amends the Irish Constitution to enable Ireland to ratify the Unified Patent Court Agreement, creating a single EU-wide patent court system.
- Allows Ireland to participate in unified patent litigation rather than handling cases through separate national courts.
- Constitutional change required because the Agreement involves transferring some judicial authority to an international court body.
Seanad Bill 2020
20 Feb 2025 Committee Stage Current Michael McDowell
- Expands who can vote in Seanad elections and establishes a new Seanad Electoral Commission to manage elections.
- Repeals two older laws (1947 and 1937 acts) governing how panel and university members were elected to Seanad.
- Reforms Seanad Éireann's structure and election process within constitutional limits; specific franchise changes and commission powers not detailed in title.
Planning and Development (Solar Panels for Public Buildings, Schools, Homes and Other Premises) (Amendment) Bill 2021
30 Jan 2025 Committee Stage Lapsed Pauline O'Reilly
- Removes planning permission requirement for solar panels on schools and public buildings.
- Allows larger solar panel arrays on homes and industrial/agricultural buildings without planning permission restrictions.
- Permits ground-mounted solar panels up to 4 metres high; listed buildings remain protected.
National Lottery (Amendment) Bill 2021
30 Jan 2025 Committee Stage Lapsed Barry Ward
- Amends National Lottery Act 2013 to make it a criminal offence for bookmakers to use National Lottery draws or products in their betting offers.
- Increases penalties for the offence and extends criminal liability to bodies corporate, not just individuals.
- Prevents private gambling operators from profiting by leveraging National Lottery activities, which are subject to consumer protections and mandatory community funding.
Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2018
14 Nov 2024 Committee Stage Lapsed Pearse Doherty
- Amends Consumer Credit Act 1995 to impose a maximum interest rate cap on moneylenders' charges.
- Specific cap rate and exemptions not detailed in title; bill lapsed at Committee Stage without enactment.
- Intended to protect consumers from excessive moneylending costs through legal rate restrictions.
Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018
20 Apr 2020 Committee Stage Lapsed Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
- Bans recognised schools from charging admission, enrolment fees, or requesting parent contributions for education costs, with limited exceptions.
- Applies to publicly funded schools; allows certain charges for optional activities or services outside core education.
- Bill lapsed at Committee Stage in 2018; did not become law. Specific exceptions and implementation details not finalised.
Protection of Employment (Measures to Counter False Self-Employment) Bill 2018
20 Apr 2020 Committee Stage Lapsed Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
- Makes employment status a legal determination based on actual work conditions, not parties' labels or contract descriptions.
- Protects workers misclassified as self-employed by allowing Workplace Relations Commission to declare employment relationship and award up to 2 years compensation.
- Applies false self-employment test across tax, social welfare and employment law where worker performs same work as employee with subordination and no commercial risk.
Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2019
13 Feb 2020 Committee Stage Lapsed
- Replaces limited section 26 of Child Care Act 1991 with new Part VA establishing a formal guardian ad litem system for children in public law child care proceedings.
- Mandates High Court appoint guardians ad litem in special care proceedings; creates presumption of appointment in District Court proceedings with specified decision criteria.
- Minister establishes Executive Office to provide guardian ad litem service, arrange legal representation, monitor performance; increases Child and Family Agency Board membership by two members.
Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016
6 Feb 2020 Committee Stage Lapsed
- Removes bans on deaf people serving on juries and replaces mental illness bar with functional capacity test for jury service.
- Repeals prohibition preventing people with mental disabilities from standing for election to Dáil, Seanad, and European Parliament.
- Makes National Disability Authority staff state civil servants; establishes Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission as monitor of UN Convention compliance.