Bills
322 bills tracked. What do the stages mean?
National Anthem Bill 2019
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Mark Daly
- Confirms 'Amhrán na bhFiann' ('The Soldier's Song') choral refrain as Ireland's official National Anthem, with or without lyrics.
- Creates an Irish Sign Language version of the National Anthem to ensure deaf and hard-of-hearing citizens can access it.
- Defines the Presidential Salute as the first 4 bars plus last 4 bars of the National Anthem's music.
Public Sector (Plain Language) Bill 2019
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
- Requires public sector bodies to write documents in plain language to make information and services more accessible to citizens.
- Applies to published documents; specific implementation details and which bodies are covered are not detailed in the long title.
- Bill did not progress beyond First Stage and has lapsed; no legislative effect.
National Asset Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2017
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Paul Gavan
- Bill allows NAMA and Ireland Strategic Investment Fund to fund social and affordable housing to stabilize the housing system.
- Amends the 2009 NAMA Act and 2014 Treasury Management Act to give these agencies new housing investment powers.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; did not progress to debate or voting in the Oireachtas.
Health and Safety (Carbon Monoxide) Bill 2017
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Diarmuid Wilson
- Requires all landlords—including local authorities and housing bodies—to arrange annual servicing of heat-producing carbon monoxide appliances in rental properties and keep records.
- Landlords must provide tenants with certification of service within 7 working days on request; tenants must allow access for work and may submit private service records instead.
- Breaches incur fines up to €5,000 or 6 months imprisonment; additional €250 daily fines for continuing contraventions. Minister sets enforcement rules within 60 days of passage.
Electoral (Amendment) (Voting Rights for Residents) Bill 2017
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Máire Devine
- Amends Electoral Act 1992 to let adults legally resident in Ireland for five years vote in Dáil and European elections, regardless of citizenship.
- Extends voting rights to non-citizens meeting residency requirement; changes who can participate in Irish parliamentary and EU elections.
- Bill did not progress beyond First Stage introduction and has lapsed without becoming law.
Health (Exemption of Charges for Involuntary Psychiatric Patients) (Amendment) Bill 2019
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Máire Devine
- Amends Health Act 1970 to remove in-patient fees for people detained involuntarily in psychiatric hospitals.
- Involuntary patients would not pay charges; applies only to those held under mental health detention orders.
- Bill did not progress beyond First Stage and has lapsed; never became law.
Statistics (1926 Census Release) Bill 2017
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Paul Gavan
- Amends Statistics Act 1993 to release 1926 Census records to the public immediately, bypassing the standard 100-year closure rule that applies to all other post-1926 censuses.
- Gives 1926 Census special heritage status due to its historical significance covering Ireland's independence, Civil War, and cultural transition period (1911–1926).
- Allows Minister to set conditions by regulation for electronic public access to 1926 Census returns for genealogical, historical, and family history research purposes.
Criminal Justice (Judicial Discretion) (Amendment) Bill 2019
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Marie-Louise O'Donnell
- Amends the Criminal Justice Act 1990, section 2. Specific changes to judicial discretion powers not detailed in available bill information.
- Bill lapsed before completion. Never progressed beyond First Stage in Oireachtas, so not enacted into law.
- Sponsor: Marie-Louise O'Donnell. Related matters mentioned but substance of amendments unclear from title alone.
Courts Service (Amendment) Bill 2017
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Diarmuid Wilson
- Prohibits Courts Service from investing in tobacco companies; currently holds approximately €1.675 billion for wards of court and children under 18.
- Requires Courts Service to notify in writing all families whose money was invested in tobacco industry that these investments will cease.
- Aligns Ireland's courts investments with tobacco-free Ireland 2025 objective and WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control commitments.
Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2019
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Frankie Feighan
- Makes it illegal for drivers to operate vehicles with unrestrained dogs; dogs must be restrained, in enclosed crates, or in enclosed vehicle areas (exceptions: Garda, Defence Forces, Customs officers on duty; guide dogs; livestock herding transport).
- Applies to 'relevant vehicles' in public places; penalties imposed as class E fines on summary conviction.
- Aims to reduce road safety risks: unrestrained dogs distract drivers and become projectiles in collisions, causing injury or death to occupants, pedestrians, and animals.
Housing (Housing Assistance Payment Waiting Times) (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2019
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Catherine Ardagh
- Introduces 3-week statutory deadline for local authorities to process Housing Assistance Payment applications; currently no timeframe exists.
- Halves social housing assessment processing time by setting new 3-week deadline under Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2009.
- Revokes existing 12-week processing timeframe regulation to replace with faster assessment times; no additional exchequer costs anticipated.
Arts (Dignity at Work) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Paul Gavan
- Allows Arts Council to require funded organisations comply with employment laws as a condition of receiving grants.
- Amends the 2003 Arts Act to give Council power to enforce workplace rights standards among funded arts bodies.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; did not progress to debate or vote in the Oireachtas.
Harmful Plastics (Prohibition) Bill 2019
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Lorraine Clifford-Lee
- Bans selling consumer goods packaging with harmful plastics and products containing microbeads.
- Encourages biodegradable materials in consumer product packaging through ministerial regulations.
- Allows EPA to monitor harmful plastic use in manufacturing, distribution, and sales.
Civil Liability (Schools) Bill 2019
20 Apr 2020 First Stage Lapsed Rónán Mullen
- Adds legal immunity for schools from negligence liability for student injuries on premises if adequate teacher supervision is in place and health/safety regulations are met.
- Protects teachers from liability when providing first aid, medical advice, or transporting injured students to hospital, except in cases of gross negligence or bad faith.
- Sets the standard of care expected from teachers as that of a prudent parent, codifying the approach generally applied by courts in school liability cases.
Employment Equality (Amendment) Bill 2013
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Jonathan O'Brien
- Adds gender identity as a protected characteristic in employment discrimination law alongside existing protections.
- Extends discrimination protections to cover civil status, gender identity, and sexual orientation in employment and vocational training.
- Amends Employment Equality Acts 1998–2011 to broaden who cannot be discriminated against in hiring, training, and professional bodies.
Credit Institutions (Stabilisation) (Amendment) Bill 2013
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Michael McGrath
- Allows credit institutions that received state support under 2008 Act to reduce pension payments to certain employees.
- Applies only to institutions covered by Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008, primarily banks that got bailouts.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; never progressed to debate or voting; no law enacted.
Mortgage Resolution Bill 2013
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Michael McGrath
- Creates a Mortgage Resolution Office to handle non-judicial processes for mortgages on family homes.
- Establishes an independent appeals system so people can challenge Mortgage Resolution Office decisions.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; never became law.
Regulation of Moneylenders Bill 2013
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Michael McGrath
- Requires Central Bank to regulate all licensed moneylenders' loans equally, regardless of loan terms or conditions.
- Aims to strengthen oversight of moneylending sector through expanded Central Bank authority and enforcement powers.
- Bill did not progress beyond First Stage and has lapsed; no provisions currently in force.
Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Michael McGrath
- Extends Financial Services Ombudsman's authority to investigate complaints about faulty financial products within three years of customer discovering the defect.
- Amends Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2004 to change complaint time limits for product defects.
- Bill lapsed without becoming law; did not progress beyond First Stage in Dáil Éireann.
Financial Services (Protection of Deposits) Bill 2013
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Michael McGrath
- Prevents charging a levy on deposits already protected by the deposit guarantee scheme.
- Protects covered deposits from additional financial charges or contributions.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; never progressed to debate or enactment.
Pensions (Traceability of Assets) (Amendment) Bill 2013
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Willie O'Dea
- Creates a system for pension scheme members to access a complete list of all their approved pension schemes in one place.
- Allows beneficiaries and estates to find pension entitlements from all schemes, simplifying benefit claims and inheritance.
- Bill lapsed before becoming law; did not progress beyond initial introduction in the Dáil.
Environment and Public Health (Wind Turbines)(No. 2) Bill 2013
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Mick Wallace
- Sets mandatory noise limits for wind turbines based on 1999 WHO standards (30 dB in bedrooms), replacing outdated 1980 standards, and requires compliance with low-frequency noise and amplitude modulation standards.
- Establishes minimum setback distances between turbines and homes (500–2,000 metres) based on turbine height, and requires shadow flicker protection to prevent shadows passing over dwellings.
- Mandates public consultation: applicants must distribute environmental information to nearby residents, advertise public meetings in local media, and submit meeting reports to planning authorities.
Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2014
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Michael McGrath
- Amends Local Property Tax Acts to delay Revenue deductions until the tax year they relate to, preventing earlier withholding.
- Affects how and when the Revenue Commissioners can collect local property tax payments from taxpayers.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; never became law. Scope of properties or amounts affected not specified in title.
Equality (Amendment) Bill 2014
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Richard Boyd Barrett
- Amends employment and public services equality laws from 1998 and 2000, but specific changes not detailed in available information.
- Sponsored by Richard Boyd Barrett; bill did not progress beyond initial presentation stage.
- Status: Lapsed—bill expired without becoming law; full scope of proposed amendments unclear.