Bills
1,078 bills tracked. What do the stages mean?
Safe Deposit Boxes and Related Deposits Bill 2022
28 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Éamon Ó Cuív
- Banks must register all safe deposit box contents and identify owners; after 6 months public notice, unclaimed boxes held 80+ years will be examined by independent auditors to find owners.
- Museum Director inspects unclaimed property deemed historically important and retains it for the State; owners can reclaim items by proving entitlement.
- Unclaimed money from safe deposits transfers annually to Dormant Accounts Fund; unsold property is disposed of by sale; depositors can claim repayment from the Fund.
Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) (Stalking) Bill 2021
28 May 2025 Second Stage Current Lisa Chambers
- Creates a specific criminal offence of stalking under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, defined by repeated unwanted behaviour driven by fixation or obsession causing alarm, distress or harm.
- Distinguishes stalking from harassment by recognising the element of intense obsession that creates unwanted intimacy, addressing a gap identified by the Law Reform Commission in 2016.
- Aims to increase reporting and prosecution of stalking, drawing on evidence from Scotland and England/Wales where dedicated stalking offences were introduced in 2010-2012.
Local Government (Establishment of Town Councils Commission) Bill 2017
28 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Shane Cassells
- Creates a Local Government Commission to review and recommend how town councils should be established and where their boundaries should be set.
- Commission will make recommendations on the town council system structure; Government will consider these recommendations before implementation.
- Bill is at Committee Stage; specific powers, timelines, and commission membership details not provided in title alone.
Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2023
28 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Robert Troy
- Local authorities must acknowledge written requests within 5 days and provide substantive replies within 15–20 days, or face Ombudsman complaints.
- Members of public and public representatives can lodge complaints with the Ombudsman if local authorities fail to respond substantively.
- Local authority chief executives must appear before the Public Accounts Committee regarding financial procedures and audit matters under the Local Government Act 2001.
Housing (Housing Assistance Payment Waiting Times) (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2021
28 May 2025 Second Stage Current Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
- Reduces social housing assessment processing time to 3 weeks, halving current timeframe, by amending the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.
- Sets new 3-week statutory deadline for Housing Assistance Payment processing by local authorities, replacing previous 12-week timeframe.
- No additional exchequer costs anticipated; applies new processing deadlines to existing social housing and housing assistance schemes.
Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2021
28 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Pádraig O'Sullivan
- Excludes fixed cost-effectiveness thresholds (ICER) from assessment of orphan drugs seeking HSE reimbursement listing, preventing standard financial value metrics from disadvantaging rare-disease treatments.
- Adds new orphan drug assessment criteria to Schedule 3 requiring HSE to consider qualitative patient/clinician data, unmet medical need, and EU availability alongside quantitative evidence.
- Defines 'orphan medicinal product' under EU Regulation 141/2000 and requires HSE to apply differentiated reimbursement decision-making process specific to orphan drugs.
Information on Repairability of Certain Products Bill 2024
22 May 2025 First Stage Defeated Maurice Quinlivan
- Creates repairability labels and product information sheets for common consumer goods like laptops and washing machines, showing repair ease and spare parts availability.
- Minister can expand product scope by regulation; Environmental Protection Agency enforces compliance through directions, with appeal rights to District Court.
- Suppliers must provide labels and sheets free of charge; dealers must display them visibly. Non-compliance triggers enforcement action and prosecution.
Planning And Development (Exempted Development - External Wall Insulation) Bill 2025
22 May 2025 Second Stage Current Richard Boyd Barrett
- External wall insulation work is exempted from needing planning permission, with limited exceptions.
- Amends the Planning and Development Act 2000 to streamline insulation upgrades on buildings.
- Specific exempted circumstances not detailed in long title; exact limitations require full bill text.
Industrial Relations (Boycott of Joint Labour Committees) Bill 2025
22 May 2025 Second Stage Current George Lawlor
- Allows Labour Court to appoint employer/worker representatives to Joint Labour Committees without their organizations' cooperation if those organizations refuse or fail to consult.
- Enables Labour Court to independently formulate and adopt employment regulation orders (minimum pay/conditions) where appointment of balanced committee membership proves impracticable.
- Removes employer/worker veto over JLC establishment by allowing Court to proceed based on sector need, not organizational agreement or participation.
Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2024
22 May 2025 Report Stage Current Lisa Chambers
- Creates new criminal offence for 'catfishing'—deceptively impersonating someone online to harm or deceive them.
- Amends Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 to define and penalise catfishing as a crime.
- Makes related changes to Broadcasting Act 2009; specific penalties and enforcement mechanisms not detailed in long title.
Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2025
21 May 2025 Second Stage Current Malcolm Noonan
- Expands derelict building definition to include damaged, neglected, boarded-up, or disconnected properties; requires local authorities publish registers online and notify Minister after two years.
- Creates Town Centre First application process streamlining planning and building control approval for residential conversions, upper-floor refurbishments, and change-of-use in town centres.
- Establishes national Town Centre First Partnership office to provide guidance on refurbishment and retrofitting; requires housing department draft technical guidance for building regulations.
Trade Union Recognition Bill 2021
19 May 2025 Second Stage Defeated Richard Boyd Barrett
- Creates legal mechanism allowing unions with 20% or more member support to seek recognition by referring disputes to Labour Court.
- Labour Court investigates membership numbers and can issue Employment Regulation Orders requiring employers to negotiate with recognized unions.
- Employers must allow union representatives workplace access for member business and negotiate employment matters for union members.
Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2025
15 May 2025 Second Stage Current Darren O'Rourke
- CRU must develop a code of practice for water service outages within 6 months, covering vulnerable customers, communications plans, emergency water supplies, and compensation thresholds.
- Uisce Éireann required to develop a code of practice setting performance standards for water service outages and interruptions.
- CRU must establish a dispute resolution mechanism for customers to lodge complaints about service interruptions and outages.
Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025
14 May 2025 Second Stage Current Conor Murphy
- Adds 'socio-economic disadvantage' as a protected ground in the Employment Equality Act 1998, making it illegal to discriminate against job applicants or employees based on their area of origin or socio-economic background.
- Adds 'socio-economic disadvantage' as a protected ground in the Equal Status Act 2000, preventing discrimination in provision of goods, services, accommodation and education based on socio-economic status.
- Defines comparators and exceptions for both Acts to implement the new ground, including housing provider exemptions and clarifying when different treatment on socio-economic grounds is unlawful.
Sale of Nitrous Oxide and Related Products Bill 2024
13 May 2025 First Stage Withdrawn Mark Ward
- Restricts nitrous oxide sales to licensed wholesalers and registered retailers serving only commercial and medical users; unauthorised sales are offences.
- Prohibits selling nitrous oxide products to anyone under 18; allows gardaí to seize containers from minors in public places without criminalising possession.
- Allows gardaí to seize nitrous oxide in public places when reasonably believed misused for intoxication; establishes ministerial registers of licensed wholesalers and retailers.
Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023
13 May 2025 First Stage Withdrawn Seán Crowe
- Makes it illegal to sell nitrous oxide in any container (including online) to anyone under 18, if intended for causing intoxication.
- Gives gardaí power to seize nitrous oxide containers from children in public places reasonably believed to be misusing them for intoxication.
- Creates criminal offence punishable by class C fine or up to 12 months imprisonment under amended Child Care Act 1991.
Public Health (Restriction on Sale of Stimulant Drinks to Children) Bill 2025
9 May 2025 Second Stage Current Sharon Keogan
- Prohibits sale of stimulant drinks to under-18s; sellers can defend themselves by showing they took reasonable steps to verify age.
- Requires health warnings on product packaging and shelf labels; bans advertising targeting children and near schools/youth venues.
- Bans self-service and vending machine sales of stimulant drinks; gives HSE powers to enforce via inspections, test purchases, and fixed penalties.
Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2024
2 May 2025 Second Stage Current Gino Kenny
- Creates legal framework allowing registered medical practitioners to assist qualifying persons with terminal illness to end their lives, subject to strict conditions and safeguards.
- Requires two independent medical assessments, psychological evaluation, written declaration with witnesses, and mental capacity verification before assistance can be provided.
- Establishes Review Committee for oversight, mandates healthcare professional training and certification, permits conscientious objection by medical staff, and requires five-yearly legislative review.
Urban Tree Protection and Sites Locally Important for Ecology Bill 2023
2 May 2025 Second Stage Current Steven Matthews
- Creates new 'Sites Locally Important for Ecology Order' designation for nature site protection, with local authorities maintaining public online registers and appeals process.
- Strengthens tree protection by requiring roads authorities to prioritize preserving, lopping or trimming trees over felling, and mandates replacement of cut-down trees.
- Makes Tree Preservation Orders compulsory consideration in council plans, allows public to request order amendments or revocation, and requires arborist reports before tree removal by public bodies.
Unfair Dismissals (Increased Protections for Workers) (Amendment) Bill 2023
2 May 2025 Second Stage Current Catherine Murphy
- Expands unfair dismissal protections to all employees regardless of employment length and removes age restrictions, covering workers over 16.
- Deems dismissal of single employee for industrial action unfair; protects workers dismissed for race, sexual orientation, trade union activity, pregnancy, protected disclosures, and other protected grounds.
- Reforms compensation system: awards decided by adjudication officer or Labour Court; full reimbursement of financial losses incurred due to dismissal; decisions issued within 28 days with reasoning.
Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Colette Kelleher
- Schools must teach about Traveller culture and history to give students knowledge and understanding of the community.
- Amends Education Act 1998 to require recognised schools include Traveller studies in their curriculum and education approach.
- Aims to increase awareness and respect for Traveller heritage among Irish schoolchildren as part of their education.
Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2021
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Jennifer Whitmore
- Adds Basking Shark to Fifth Schedule of Wildlife Act 1976, making it a legally protected wild animal in Ireland.
- Makes it illegal to intentionally or recklessly injure, disturb or harass any protected wild animal, except for hunting purposes.
- Allows Minister to create a code of conduct by regulation for wildlife tourism and recreational activities, after consulting environmental groups.
International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Frances Black
- Refugees and people with subsidiary protection can apply to bring qualifying family members to Ireland, including parents, siblings, children, and grandparents.
- Expands family reunification to include wards and guardians alongside traditional relations, widening who counts as eligible family.
- Bill currently in committee stage; establishes legal framework for processing these family reunification applications.
Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current John Brady
- Requires the National Treasury Management Agency to stop investing Ireland Strategic Investment Fund assets in companies listed on UN database of firms operating in illegal Israeli settlements.
- Mandates the Agency divest from any current investments, direct or indirect, in companies on the UN settlements database.
- Requires annual reporting on compliance measures taken to meet these investment restrictions and divestment obligations.