Bills
367 bills tracked. What do the stages mean?
Spiking Offences Bill 2026
23 Oct 2026 Second Stage Current Mark Ward
- Creates standalone spiking offence with maximum 10-year sentence, replacing current poisoning charge under 1997 Act carrying 3-year maximum.
- Establishes statutory toxicology pathways in Garda stations and clinical settings to support victims' care and justice pursuit.
- Addresses 278 reported spiking incidents since 2022, none previously prosecuted under existing legislation.
Patient Safety (Right to Escalation and Clinical Review) Bill 2026
22 Oct 2026 Second Stage Current Aubrey McCarthy
- Patients, family, and carers gain legal right to demand urgent clinical review if patient's condition seriously worsens.
- Hospitals must run 24/7 critical review systems and protocols for sepsis and deterioration cases.
- Hospitals must report and notify when staff fail to escalate patient care as required.
Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026
15 Oct 2026 Second Stage Current Maria Byrne
- Limits how many retail shops can sell tobacco and nicotine products across Ireland by amending the 2023 law.
- Gives the state power to regulate the number of premises licensed to sell these products in the public interest.
- Specific caps, application process, and enforcement details not yet available at Second Stage draft.
Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2026
15 Oct 2026 Second Stage Current Eileen Flynn
- Amends the 2020 Harassment Act to change how harmful communications offences are defined or enforced.
- Modifies the 2009 Broadcasting Act; specific changes not detailed in available text.
- Exact provisions unclear at Second Stage — full amendment details needed for plain summary.
Local Government (Control of Horse-Drawn Carriages) Bill 2026
2 Oct 2026 Second Stage Current Máire Devine
- Repeals three 1853–1855 Dublin Carriage Acts that currently govern horse-drawn carriages in Dublin, enabling local councils to make new bylaws instead.
- Allows Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, and South Dublin to regulate horse-drawn carriages under Local Government Act 2001 powers.
- Amends section 199 of Local Government Act 2001 to permit bylaws on horse-drawn carriage dung disposal in the former Dublin Metropolitan Police District.
Artificial Intelligence Companion Services (Protection of Children) Bill 2026
30 Sep 2026 Second Stage Current Malcolm Byrne
- Bans AI chatbot services designed to simulate friendship, companionship or intimate relationships from being made available to children under 16.
- Requires providers to implement age-assurance measures beyond self-declaration and prohibits targeted promotion of banned services to children.
- Gives Coimisiún na Meán enforcement powers including information notices, compliance notices, and ability to issue directions; creates criminal offences for knowing violations.
Non-Binary and Intersex Recognition Bill 2026
25 Sep 2026 Second Stage Current Ruth Coppinger
- Allows people to change registered gender to female, male, or non-binary on Gender Recognition Certificates and civil registers including births, deaths, adoptions, and stillbirths.
- Permits use of 'X' marker on birth, death, adoption, and stillbirth registers to record intersex status or unspecified sex characteristics.
- Extends discrimination protections in employment and public services to cover intersex people, treating sexual characteristics as protected ground like gender.
Withdrawal of the State from the Migration and Asylum Pact of the European Union Bill 2026
25 Sep 2026 Second Stage Current Peadar Tóibín
- Revokes Ireland's prior June 2024 approval for EU Migration and Asylum Pact legislative measures, making them no longer binding or applicable in the State.
- Requires Government to notify the EU Council and European Commission immediately after the Bill passes that designated measures no longer apply to Ireland.
- Invokes Ireland's opt-out right under Protocol 21 on the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice to withdraw from the specified EU migration legislation.
Disability (Amendment) Bill 2026
24 Sep 2026 Second Stage Current
- Allows applicants to withdraw disability assessment applications and have them closed; applications can be reinstated within 12 months under conditions set by regulations.
- Clarifies assessment process focuses on determining disability first, then identifying health and education needs; shifts emphasis from diagnostic extent to restrictions and required services.
- Enables Minister to request HSE prepare statutory guidelines supporting assessment officers in applying disability determination provisions and assessment procedures.
Dublin Local Authorities (Visitor Accommodation Levy) Bill 2026
23 Sep 2026 Second Stage Current Paul McAuliffe
- Enables each of four Dublin local authorities to adopt a scheme charging overnight visitors a levy on tourist accommodation; revenue must fund tourism infrastructure, public realm, and cultural events only.
- Requires 60-day public consultation before scheme adoption; accommodation providers collect levy from visitors and remit to authority; levy does not apply to humanitarian or emergency accommodation.
- Establishes register of accommodation providers; authorised officers may inspect premises and records; authorities may jointly administer functions and cooperate with digital booking platforms for compliance.
Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) (Smokefree Generation) Bill 2026
23 Sep 2026 Second Stage Current Malcolm Byrne
- Bans sale of tobacco, nicotine and nicotine inhalation products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009, creating a permanent age restriction for this generation.
- Makes proxy purchasing illegal and requires retailers to verify age; extends retail registration to nicotine products with suspension or cancellation for non-compliance.
- Applies existing enforcement powers and penalties to new offences; requires periodic review of the measure's operation and effectiveness.
Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026
22 Sep 2026 Second Stage Withdrawn Pearse Doherty
- Grants emergency powers to temporarily reduce mineral oil tax on home heating oil, petrol, auto-diesel, and green diesel to ease cost of living pressures.
- Allows Minister for Finance to extend tax reduction periods by order and must review energy prices regularly to adjust measures accordingly.
- Requires Minister to report monthly on how the tax reduction measures are functioning and whether they remain proportionate to their stated purpose.
Road Traffic (Amendment) (Jax’s Law) Bill 2026
18 Sep 2026 Second Stage Current Barry Ward
- Amends Road Traffic Act 1961 to recognise loss of pregnancy from careless or dangerous driving as grounds for indictable offence proceedings.
- Allows prosecution of drivers for more serious charges when their driving causes pregnancy loss, not just injury or death.
- Clarifies legal status of pregnancy loss in road traffic prosecutions; practical effect broadens accountability for dangerous driving consequences.
Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2026
17 Sep 2026 Second Stage Current Pa Daly
- Amends Electricity Regulation Act 1999 to replace 'first come first served' grid connection system with prioritised applications process managed by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.
- Requires Minister to lay periodic reports (at least yearly) before Oireachtas assessing national capacity for electricity transmission and distribution system connections.
- Enables structured, policy-driven prioritisation of competing demands from housing, industry, renewable energy, and strategic infrastructure for grid connections.
Electoral (Postal Voting) (Carers) Bill 2026
17 Jul 2026 Second Stage Current Mark Wall
- Amends Electoral Act 1992 to allow carers to register as postal voters, extending eligibility beyond current illness/disability grounds.
- Creates three new carer categories eligible for postal voting: recipients of domiciliary care allowance, carer's benefit/allowance/support grant, or home carer's tax credit claimants.
- Updates Electoral Acts 1992–2023 framework to include new postal voter registration provisions for carers.
Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026
10 Jul 2026 Second Stage Current Paul Murphy
- Bans U.S. military aircraft and civil aircraft carrying weapons/ammunition from landing in Ireland, except during aircraft distress searches or rescue operations.
- Defines 'U.S. military aircraft' as aircraft owned and used militarily by the United States, and 'munitions of war' as weapons, ammunition and their parts.
- Act comes into force within 90 days of presidential signature.
Adult Safeguarding Strategy Bill 2026
9 Jul 2026 Second Stage Current Tom Clonan
- Minister for Health must create periodic strategic plans to protect adults at risk of harm.
- Bill requires implementation oversight and reviews of these safeguarding strategies; related provisions included.
- Specific harm types, update frequency, and enforcement mechanisms not detailed in long title.
Prevention of Energy Wastage Bill 2026
3 Jul 2026 Second Stage Current Jennifer Whitmore
- Amends Climate Action Act 2021 to require minister make regulations ensuring curtailed and constrained renewable electricity available free to eligible customers.
- Requires CRU establish Wasted Electricity Utilisation Scheme within 12 months, prioritizing vulnerable households and those at risk of energy poverty.
- Addresses renewable electricity wastage by redirecting otherwise-wasted power to reduce energy poverty and support just transition, without mandating price controls.
Anti-Shrinkflation Bill 2026
24 Jun 2026 Second Stage Current Holly Cairns
- Requires retailers (400m²+ or 5+ store chains) to label products with reduced quantities for 60+ days to show unit price increases.
- Exempts products where manufacturer already labels unit price increases or increases are under 3%.
- Breaches incur fines up to €15,000, enforced by Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; Act reviewed within 18 months.
Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026
18 Jun 2026 Second Stage Current Barry Heneghan
- Replaces restrictive section 37 with new Part VA: CRU grants permissions for private electricity lines (direct lines) via application or deemed-permitted class orders.
- CRU gains explicit regulatory authority over direct line safety standards, inspection, installation, operation and decommissioning via regulations and appointed safety officers.
- CRU must maintain public register of permitted direct lines; can refuse applications on non-discrimination grounds or market harm; can direct ownership transfer to grid operators at connection.
Health (Amendment) Bill 2026
18 Jun 2026 Second Stage Current Louise O'Reilly
- Requires Minister for Health to review Long Term Illness Scheme effectiveness every three years, starting within 12 months of bill passage.
- Minister must publish review findings within 6 months and present reports to Oireachtas and Department of Health website.
- Updates Health Act 1970 to ensure free medicines/appliances scheme for long-term conditions remains fit for purpose and current.
School Meals Nutritional Standards Bill 2026
17 Jun 2026 Second Stage Current Jen Cummins
- Minister for Health must make regulations within 12 months setting nutritional standards for State or local authority-funded school meals, covering portion sizes, food groups, drinks, and vegetarian options.
- Food Safety Authority of Ireland gains enforcement powers to monitor and enforce compliance with school meal nutritional standards regulations.
- Schools gain statutory duty to promote healthy food environments for students, moving nutritional standards from administrative guidance to legal requirement.
Forestry (Critical Infrastructure) (Amendment) Bill 2026
17 Jun 2026 Second Stage Current Martin Kenny
- Amends Forestry Act 2014 to establish statutory minimum corridor widths for water mains, gas lines, and electricity lines crossing forestry lands.
- Increases minimum centre width for 10kV and 38kV power lines from 20 meters to 55 meters to ensure safe operation and maintenance.
- Provides legally binding clearance requirements to protect critical infrastructure where it traverses or adjoins forestry lands.
Media Regulation Bill 2026
12 Jun 2026 Second Stage Current
- Transfers media merger assessment functions from the Minister for Culture to Coimisiún na Meán, with expanded grounds including editorial independence and a 'call-in' power for mergers not meeting standard thresholds.
- Requires public authorities to publish annual state advertising expenditure data and distribute spending across diverse media providers; Coimisiún na Meán monitors compliance and produces annual reports.
- Mandates creation of a national media ownership database from information disclosed by media service providers; allows Coimisiún na Meán to request audience measurement transparency codes from broadcasters.