Bills
327 bills tracked. What do the stages mean?
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- Sets mandatory noise limits for wind turbines based on 1999 WHO standards (30 dB in bedrooms), replacing outdated 1980 standards, and requires compliance with low-frequency noise and amplitude modulation standards.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.
Housing (Homeless Prevention) Bill 2014
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Maureen O'Sullivan
- Amends Housing Act 1988 section 2 to redefine 'homelessness' to include 'being at risk of becoming homeless', shifting focus toward prevention.
- Amends Housing Act 1988 section 10 to enable local authorities to fund approved bodies delivering housing advice, advocacy, and tenancy support services.
- Removes legislative restrictions preventing cross-sectoral cooperation between local authorities, agencies, and frontline organisations on homelessness prevention.
Health (Amendment) Bill 2014
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Fergus O'Dowd
- Allows HIQA to investigate complaints about care safety and quality at designated centres without needing a formal complaint process.
- Expands HIQA's investigative powers to cover unsolicited communications expressing concerns about services provided by healthcare executives and registered providers.
- Applies to designated centres and their registered providers, affecting oversight of residential care facilities and service quality standards.
Fiscal Responsibility (Amendment) Bill 2015
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Michael McGrath
- Expands the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council's role to analyse political parties' policy proposals for fiscal impact.
- Amends the 2012 Fiscal Responsibility Act to give the Council new powers to assess party economic policies.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; specific scope and implementation details not available from title alone.
Disability (Amendment) Bill 2015
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Mattie McGrath
- Bans misleading language about unborn babies with disabilities, particularly the term 'incompatible with life'.
- Requires government ministers to plan and provide services for people with disabilities within available resources.
- Aims to promote equality for people with disabilities and related matters. (Bill lapsed; not enacted.)
Central Bank (Code of Conduct) Bill 2015
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Michael McGrath
- Prevents courts from ordering repossession of a borrower's main home if their lender hasn't followed the relevant code of practice.
- Applies to cases where lenders violate Central Bank codes governing mortgage lending and borrower protections.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; current status unknown—no information on whether similar provisions became law elsewhere.
Equality in Education Bill 2015
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Jonathan O'Brien
- Repeals religious discrimination exemption in Equal Status Act 2000, ending schools' legal right to prefer admissions based on applicants' religion.
- Requires Minister to issue guidelines within 12 months and mandates faith formation teaching outside school hours; general curriculum must be non-religious.
- Requires school boards to adopt diversity policies within 12 months, developed with parents and children, to ensure non-discriminatory admissions practices.
Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2015
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Mattie McGrath
- Protects certain mortgages from repeals made by the 2009 Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act, ensuring specific statutory rules still apply to them.
- Prevents the 2013 Act from removing homeowners' right to a full court hearing before eviction from their main residence.
- Allows courts to adjourn legal proceedings in certain cases and addresses related procedural matters.
Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) (Amendment) Bill 2016
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Noel Rock
- Requires Central Bank to consult Minister for Finance on draft regulations and wait for written ministerial views and proposed amendments before proceeding.
- Requires Central Bank to consult relevant Oireachtas Joint Committee on draft regulations and wait for written committee views and amendments before proceeding.
- Requires all written communications between Minister, Joint Committee and Central Bank on draft regulations be completed in reasonable timeframe and laid before Oireachtas.
Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2016
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Gerry Adams
- Amends Electoral Acts 1992–2015 to require all polling stations be wheelchair accessible.
- Ensures disabled voters can physically enter and use polling stations without barriers.
- Bill did not progress beyond First Stage and lapsed without becoming law.
Corporate Manslaughter Bill 2016
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Jonathan O'Brien
- Creates criminal offense of corporate manslaughter where an undertaking causes death by gross negligence in workplace health and safety.
- Creates separate offense of grossly negligent management causing death for high managerial agents; both prosecuted on indictment with fines and potential disqualification.
- Courts may impose remedial orders, community service orders, and adverse publicity orders on convicted undertakings; allows piercing corporate veil if company dissolved to evade liability.
Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) (Amendment) Bill 2016
19 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Billy Kelleher
- Amends 2013 Act to permit switching between biologic drugs and their biosimilar versions in medical treatment.
- Aims to increase flexibility in prescribing and potentially reduce costs of biologic medicines for patients.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; did not progress to further parliamentary debate or votes.
Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) (Cross Border Crime Agency) Bill 2019
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Brendan Smith
- Creates statutory Cross Border Crime Agency with Director General and 8 officers from Irish and Northern Irish security, tax, and environmental authorities.
- Agency investigates organised crime, human trafficking, fuel smuggling, and illicit trade in border region; receives information from both police forces.
- Director General must publish annual reports to Oireachtas and appear before relevant committees; agency reports protected from defamation proceedings.
Trade Union Bill 2019
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Mick Barry
- Removes restrictions on pickets: allows pickets for union aims beyond trade disputes, permits pickets at workplace approaches rather than entrances only, and allows anyone to join pickets without risk of injunction.
- Repeals ballot and notice requirements: eliminates requirement for secret ballots and one-week notice before industrial action, removing legal grounds employers use to obtain injunctions.
- Allows unions to take industrial action for individual worker grievances without exhausting agreed procedures first, enabling swift action in dismissals and victimization cases.
Insurance (Life Assurance and Life Insurance) (Amendment) Bill 2019
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed James Browne
- Amends Insurance Act 2000: prohibits insurers from refusing to pay death benefits when insured person dies by suicide after 12 months from policy start date.
- Applies to life insurance, life assurance, and death benefit policies: prevents insurers from failing or refusing to execute payments in these circumstances.
- Removes insurer discretion to deny claims based solely on suicide as cause of death, provided 12-month period has elapsed since policy commencement.
Organisation of Working Time (Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2019
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Mary Lou McDonald
- Creates statutory right to paid domestic violence leave for employees under Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.
- Extends unfair dismissal protections to employees taking domestic violence leave under Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977-2015.
- Defines domestic violence, coercive control, and eligible persons; sets leave entitlements, notification rules, and Workplace Relations Commission dispute resolution.
Fiscal Responsibility (Amendment) Bill 2019
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Martin Heydon
- Amends Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012 to give Irish Fiscal Advisory Council power to review opposition parties' pre-Budget policies and proposals.
- Council must report whether opposition parties' approaches support prudent economic and budgetary management.
- Changes section 8(4) of the 2012 Act to enable this new review and reporting function.
Broadcasting (Television Licence Fees Recovery) Bill 2019
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Seán Sherlock
- Requires TV service providers (Sky, Virgin, etc.) to share subscription data with the licence fee collector on request to identify unlicensed TV set owners.
- Adds new section 145A to Broadcasting Act 2009 permitting data processing by the issuing agent to assist licence fee recovery and identification functions.
- Aims to reduce evasion rates estimated at 12-14% and potentially increase licence fee revenue by €25-30 million annually through cross-checking subscriber lists.
Public Health (Electronic Cigarettes and Herbal Cigarettes) Bill 2019
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Alan Farrell
- Prohibits selling or supplying electronic cigarettes, refill containers, and herbal cigarettes to anyone under 18 years old, creating criminal offences for violations.
- Establishes penalties for breaches and allows authorised officers under tobacco law to enforce these new age restrictions on related products.
- Closes gap in existing tobacco law, which already banned sales to under-18s but did not cover electronic or herbal cigarettes.
Latent Defects Redress Bill 2019
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Dessie Ellis
- Establishes independent Latent Defects Redress Board to provide information, mediation, and adjudication for homeowners affected by building regulation non-compliance, including fire safety and structural defects.
- Board will conduct risk assessments for latent defects and review existing sanctions against developers/builders for breaching building and fire safety standards, making recommendations to Minister.
- Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government appoints establishment day and determines Board's powers.