Agriculture & Food
Bills affecting farming, food production, fisheries, animal welfare and rural Ireland.
43 bills tracked under this topic.
Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Hare Coursing) Bill 2020
9 Jul 2026 First Stage Defeated Paul Murphy
- Bans hare coursing events (competitions where dogs hunt live hares) with immediate effect upon commencement; offenders face fines up to €5,000.
- Removes hare coursing exemptions from Wildlife Act 1976 and Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 by amending those Acts.
- Allows Irish Coursing Club to optionally shift focus to lure coursing (artificial lures, not live animals) for greyhounds and sighthounds.
Commission on the Future of the Family Farm Bill 2024
26 Feb 2026 First Stage Defeated Martin Kenny
- Establishes Commission on Future of Family Farm to make recommendations to Minister for Agriculture and Oireachtas on family farm economic viability and climate support.
- Commission membership appointed under Section 3; functions and operations set out in Section 4 regarding sustainable family-owned farm recommendations.
- Government must consider Commission reports on increasing family farms in economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner per Section 5.
Agri-Food Regulator (Amendment) Bill 2026
21 Jan 2026 Second Stage Current Jennifer Whitmore
- Amends Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act 2023 to give Agri-Food Regulator power to compel businesses to provide pricing, margin, and financial data.
- Replaces "seek" with "compel" in Section 12(3)(d), enabling Regulator to demand information from retailers currently refusing voluntary disclosure.
- Closes enforcement gap by authorizing Regulator to require prices, margins, accounting data, employment records, and supply chain throughput for transparency.
Dog Welfare (Amendment) Bill 2025
21 Nov 2025 Second Stage Current Jennifer Whitmore
- Amends Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 to cap number of breeding bitches per site, set minimum breeding age, and require staff-to-bitch ratios.
- Introduces statutory limits: minimum breeding age, maximum litters per bitch, annual breeding limits, and minimum age before puppy separation from mother.
- Prohibits surgical artificial insemination in dog breeding and adjusts licensing fees to reflect the reduced cap on breeding bitches.
Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2025
18 Jul 2025 Second Stage Current Jennifer Whitmore
- Adds sprat fish to the Fifth Schedule of the Wildlife Act 1976, making it a protected species and prohibiting targeted fishing except as accidental bycatch.
- Imposes a moratorium on commercial sprat fishing until sufficient scientific data exists on population, habitat, and ecological role in marine ecosystems.
- Requires development of a Just Transition plan to support inshore fishers affected by the moratorium, including retraining, diversification, and financial assistance.
Animal Health and Welfare (Welfare of Pigs) Bill 2025
2 Jul 2025 Second Stage Current Paul Murphy
- Bans teeth-clipping, tail-docking, and castration of pigs except for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.
- Restricts tusk reduction in boars to last-resort situations where necessary to prevent injury or safety risks.
- Prohibits sow stalls and farrowing crates smaller than 5 square metres that prevent sows turning around.
Animal Health and Welfare (Ban on Fox Hunting) Bill 2025
29 May 2025 Second Stage Current Ruth Coppinger
- Amends Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to ban fox hunting, including using dogs to chase, flush, dig out, trap, or snare foxes.
- Prohibits trail hunting (following fox scent), closing a loophole identified in British experience where it leads to actual fox killing.
- Comes into force 6 months after passing, or earlier at Minister for Agriculture's discretion.
Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2021
28 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Jackie Cahill
- Restricts veterinary practice ownership to qualified veterinary practitioners only, amending the Veterinary Practice Act 2005 which currently permits non-practitioners to own practices.
- Only eligible veterinary practitioners can apply for, obtain, or renew certificates of suitability for veterinary premises from the Veterinary Council.
- Creates new ownership rules preventing non-veterinarians from operating registered veterinary premises, effective from a date set by the Minister.
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.
Animal Sentience Bill 2024
2 May 2025 Second Stage Current Paul Murphy
- Amends Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to create Animal Sentience Committee of expert advisors to assess how government policies affect animal welfare.
- Committee must report whether policies harm sentient animals (vertebrates, cephalopods, decapod crustaceans) and recommend steps to address impacts.
- Minister must respond in writing to Committee reports and table responses in Dáil Éireann within three months of publication.
Animal Health and Welfare (Prohibition of Animal Testing for Botox) (Amendment) Bill 2024
2 May 2025 Second Stage Current Paul Murphy
- Amends Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to ban animal testing specifically for botox safety determination.
- Modifies section 16 of the 2013 Act to introduce the prohibition on botox-related animal testing.
- Applies commencement upon enactment; no transitional provisions or exemptions detailed in the memorandum.
Protection of Hares Bill 2023
2 May 2025 Second Stage Current Jennifer Whitmore
- Amends Wildlife Act 1976 to ban Minister from issuing licences for live hare coursing, making the practice unlawful.
- Extends full Wildlife Act 1976 protections to hares, a native Irish species historically used in coursing.
- Removes exemptions in Wildlife Act sections 26 and 34 that previously allowed hare coursing under licence.
Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024
24 Apr 2025 Enacted
- Dissolves Marine Casualty Investigation Board and establishes Marine Accident Investigation Unit within Department of Transport with independent investigative powers over marine accidents.
- Repeals 2000 Marine Casualties Act; implements EU Directive 2009/18/EC requirements including mandatory investigation of very serious marine casualties and safety recommendations.
- Enables Minister to regulate offshore service vessels and industrial personnel carriage through secondary legislation, with survey and certification by Marine Survey Office.
Horticultural Peat (Temporary Measures) Bill 2021
28 Mar 2025 Second Stage Current Micheál Carrigy
- Exempts peat extraction for horticulture from planning permission and environmental licensing requirements for a temporary period to address supply shortages.
- Treats peat extraction for horticulture as an established activity; operators must apply for licences but face no enforcement action during exemption period.
- Minister must review the exemption within two years and may extend it, but cannot extend beyond 2030.
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.
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.
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.
Equitable Beef Pricing Bill 2020
28 Feb 2025 Second Stage Defeated Peadar Tóibín
- Minister can set minimum beef prices that buyers must pay farmers; temporary power subject to Oireachtas resolution renewal.
- Repeals the '30-month rule' that restricted sale of cattle over 30 months old, originally imposed due to BSE crisis.
- Aims to improve farmer sustainability by ensuring equitable beef pricing and removing age-based market restrictions on cattle sales.
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.
Special Measures in the Public Interest (Derrybrien Wind Farm) Bill 2023
30 Jan 2025 First Stage Defeated Tom Clonan
- Bill transfers Derrybrien wind farm ownership to Western Development Commission to help secure Ireland's electricity supply.
- Allows removal of current Gort Windfarms staff and appointment of new personnel; renames company and transfers land lease.
- Suspends certain company law rules for Gort Windfarms; existing contracts remain valid. Bill was defeated at first stage.
Anaerobic Digestion (National Strategy) Bill 2023
14 Nov 2024 First Stage Lapsed Christopher O'Sullivan
- Minister creates national anaerobic digestion strategy covering agricultural, industrial, hospitality and domestic uses to increase renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Strategy enables waste organic matter conversion to biogas and fertiliser through sealed reactor facilities, with potential farmer co-operative models sharing energy dividends.
- Minister empowered to make regulations supporting strategy implementation; Ireland currently has 13 digesters versus Germany's 10,000.
Dog Breeding Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2021
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Peadar Tóibín
- Requires local authorities to refuse dog breeding establishment registration when necessary to protect animal welfare; makes this decision mandatory rather than discretionary.
- Increases minimum fines to €5,000 for summary offences and €10,000 for indictment convictions; applies to dog breeding violations.
- Mandates local authorities appoint dedicated authorised persons to enforce dog breeding rules; removes automatic status of dog wardens as authorised persons.
Rural Equality Bill 2021
14 Nov 2024 First Stage Lapsed Claire Kerrane
- Public bodies must submit rural impact schemes to the Minister assessing socio-economic effects of proposed measures on rural Ireland.
- Public bodies must consider mitigation measures and alternatives to reduce rural socio-economic inequalities when implementing policies.
- Minister publishes guidelines for public bodies and presents annual reports to Oireachtas on rural equality progress.
Mandatory Beef Price Transparency Bill 2019
14 Nov 2024 First Stage Lapsed Brian Stanley
- Minister for Agriculture must establish a program collecting daily cattle prices in euros per kilogram from processors.
- Processors report daily prices; Minister publishes this information at set intervals to create a beef market price index.
- Designated officers must report specific cattle and boxed beef information daily and weekly as outlined in the Act.
Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) (Amendment) Bill 2019
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Mattie McGrath
- Amends the 2000 Act to require the Minister to consider candidates' relevant knowledge, qualifications, or experience when appointing or reappointing Board members.
- Requires the Department Secretary General to apply the same consideration criteria when nominating a person to replace the Chief Surveyor if that office is vacant.
- Establishes that Board composition decisions must have regard to candidates' suitability for the Board's functions.
Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Martin Kenny
- Allows island fishermen to get heritage licences to continue traditional fishing practices on Ireland's offshore islands.
- Enables fishing methods and practices tied to island communities' cultural heritage to be formally permitted and protected.
- Bill did not progress beyond Second Stage debate and lapsed without becoming law.
Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024
1 Nov 2024 Enacted
- Creates an independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel to review decisions made by Appeals Officers under the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001, with 6-month deadline for requesting review.
- Allows Appeals Officers to hold oral hearings remotely by electronic means with party agreement, and permits decisions even if a party fails to attend.
- Removes mandatory retirement age of 70 for members of the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997.
Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Establishes An Rialálaí Agraibhia (Agri Food Regulator) as independent statutory body to promote fairness and transparency in agricultural and food supply chains.
- Prohibits unfair trading practices in business-to-business agricultural and food relationships, including late payments, unauthorized charges, and improper contract changes.
- Grants Regulator enforcement powers to investigate breaches, conduct inspections, bring proceedings, and publish decisions; Minister may make regulations on unfair practices with consent requirements.
Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Extends Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme to businesses meeting new eligibility criteria; allows previously-exited employers to re-enter with enhanced subsidy rates through May 2022.
- Exempts frontline healthcare workers from income tax, USC and PRSI on Pandemic Special Recognition Payments up to €1,000; expands Covid Restrictions Support Scheme eligibility and increases turnover threshold.
- Extends tax debt warehousing scheme (PAYE, income tax, VAT, PRSI) to 30 April 2022 for Covid-impacted businesses; waives excise duty on special exemption orders; repays stamp duty overpayments on cost rental dwellings.
Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) (Amendment) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Changes Marine Casualty Investigation Board composition to 5-7 members (from fixed number); limits tenure to initial 5-year period plus one reappointment; removes age threshold.
- Requires persons involved in marine casualties to notify both the Marine Casualty Investigation Board and the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport.
- Updates definition of 'Safety Convention' to include International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea amendments through May 2018 Maritime Safety Committee session.
Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Prohibits breeding and keeping specified animals solely for fur or skin; makes fur farming an offence punishable by fine up to €250,000 and/or five years imprisonment.
- Establishes compensation scheme for three active mink farms: covers income loss, non-income loss, redundancy, demolition, and disposal costs, determined by independent assessor with High Court appeal.
- Repeals Part 12 of Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (animal mart licensing); enables Minister to license livestock marts by regulation for animal health and welfare purposes.
Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Establishes points system for fishing boat masters for serious Common Fisheries Policy breaches; accumulation triggers suspension then removal from register, prohibiting boat command.
- Creates Irish Fishing Master Register maintained by Minister; masters must register to legally command Irish or foreign fishing boats; registration can be refused for incomplete/false applications.
- Implements EU control regulations via independent Determination Panel and Appeals Officer; decisions appealable to High Court; unblocks €25 million EU co-funding suspended for Ireland's fisheries enforcement.
Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Creates Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) to grant maritime area consents for long-term maritime activities and licences for short-term or minor uses in Irish waters.
- Establishes National Marine Planning Framework with Maritime Spatial Plans; local authorities decide nearshore cases (within 3 nautical miles), An Bord Pleanála handles offshore and cross-authority projects.
- Extends planning permission system to maritime area; makes Maritime Area Consent a gateway to planning permission; creates enforcement powers for MARA (offshore) and local authorities (nearshore).
Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Extends three-year cap on nursing home costs to family-owned farms and businesses if a family successor commits to working the asset for six years from appointment.
- Requires Health Service Executive to assess eligibility, appoint family successors, conduct compliance reviews, and recoup relief if conditions are breached during the relevant period.
- Allows people in care to appoint replacements if a family successor dies or becomes unable to work the asset, and permits asset transfers without triggering repayment obligations under certain circumstances.
Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Consolidates Ireland's maritime jurisdiction laws into one act, implementing UN Convention on Law of the Sea provisions on territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelf rights.
- Repeals sections 2-3 of Continental Shelf Act 1968 and Part 3 of Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006; extends criminal jurisdiction to Irish ships operating outside territorial waters.
- Allows Government to set baselines, straight baselines, bay closing lines, and continental shelf designations by order; clarifies State ownership of seabed resources in maritime zones.
Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Replaces Animal Remedies Act 1993; establishes licensing and regulation framework for retail, import, and storage of veterinary medicines and medicated feed, with enforcement powers for authorised officers.
- Creates national database for recording veterinary prescriptions issued electronically by vets and dispensed by pharmacies, co-ops, feed mills and registered outlets to ensure market competition.
- Amends Fertilisers Feeding Stuffs and Mineral Mixtures Act 1955 to establish national fertiliser database tracking manufacture, import, sale and supply from import to end-user, with operator and end-user registration requirements.
Prohibition of Sulky-Racing Bill 2018
17 Dec 2020 First Stage Defeated Mattie McGrath
- Proposes to ban sulky racing (horse-drawn cart racing) unless the organizer obtains legal permission beforehand.
- Aimed at stopping unauthorized sulky racing events on public roads or private land without proper licensing.
- Bill was defeated at First Stage in 2018; did not proceed to further debate or enactment.
Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020
5 Oct 2020 Enacted
- Forestry Appeals Committee can now sit in divisions and appoint deputy chairpersons to increase capacity and speed up processing of forestry licensing appeals.
- Minister gains powers to set appeal fees by regulation, establish procedures for oral hearings, and issue policy directives to prioritize certain appeal classes.
- Forestry license application documents must be published on Department website for public access; High Court appeals on points of law are eliminated.
Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020
14 Jul 2020 Enacted
- Increases maximum grant the Minister can give to Microfinance Ireland from €35m to €105m to support business lending during Covid-19.
- Allows Microfinance Ireland to borrow from sources other than Social Finance Foundation and lend those borrowed funds to microenterprises.
- Raises maximum cumulative contribution limit under European Investment Fund Agreement from €75m to €500m for two Ministers to access additional funding.
Equitable Beef Pricing Bill 2019
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Peadar Tóibín
- Sets minimum beef prices at or above Teagasc's most recent break-even point; Minister can vary prices by beef class, subject to Oireachtas veto.
- Prohibits businesses from treating cattle over 30 months less favorably than younger cattle in sales to farmers.
- All provisions expire after one year unless both Houses of Oireachtas pass resolutions to extend them.
Prohibition of Fur Farming Bill 2018
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Ruth Coppinger
- Bans keeping animals solely or mainly to kill them for fur sales in Ireland.
- Amends the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to add fur farming prohibitions and related rules.
- Bill did not progress beyond First Stage introduction before it lapsed.
Foal Levy Bill 2017
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Clare Daly
- Amends 1994 and 1999 horseracing Acts to change how foal levy fees are charged on horse breeding.
- Creates a new Levy Committee to oversee foal levy administration and decision-making.
- Bill did not progress beyond introduction; status lapsed without becoming law.
Prohibition of Wild Animals in Circuses Bill 2017
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Ruth Coppinger
- Amends Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to ban wild animals in circuses.
- Prohibits use of wild animals in circus performances and related activities.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; did not progress to debate or enactment.