Social Welfare
Bills affecting welfare, disability supports, pensions, child benefits and supplementary payments.
79 bills tracked under this topic.
Health (Amendment) (Home Support Providers) Bill 2025
21 May 2026 Fifth Stage Current
- Creates registration and inspection scheme for home support providers serving older people and people with disabilities.
- Amends Health Act 2007 to establish regulatory framework for these private dwelling support services.
- Currently in Committee Stage—specific registration requirements, inspection frequency, and enforcement details not yet finalized.
Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2024
11 May 2026 Fifth Stage Current
- Transfers ownership of Microfinance Ireland's shares from Social Finance Foundation to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
- Establishes a board of directors and chief executive officer role for Microfinance Ireland to govern the organisation independently.
- Creates pension and superannuation arrangements for Microfinance Ireland staff members.
Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025
17 Apr 2026 Second Stage Current
- Lets Criminal Assets Bureau detain property longer during investigations and freeze bank account funds to prevent moving money.
- Speeds up court process to seize property by reducing time needed before formal disposal orders; appoints receivers to control assets.
- Updates five criminal justice laws and the National Archives Act to strengthen asset recovery powers in corruption and terrorism cases.
Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025
13 Mar 2026 Committee Stage Current
- Amends 1991 Child Care Act to strengthen child protection rules, establish new coordination committee, and align with EU child safety directive.
- Updates vetting procedures under 2012 National Vetting Bureau Act and 2013 Child and Family Agency Act for better safeguarding.
- Sets guiding principles for Child and Family Agency and requires better cooperation between organizations handling child care and protection.
Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026
27 Feb 2026 Enacted
- Landlords must provide tenants and the Residential Tenancies Board with specified information when a tenancy starts.
- Rent review frequency is limited, and landlords can only end tenancies under specific circumstances; rules apply during and after minimum-duration tenancies.
- The Residential Tenancies Board will share tenant data with social welfare, tax, and energy authorities; short-term letting rules and civil law contributions are adjusted.
Social Welfare and Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System (Amendment) Bill 2025
23 Jan 2026 Enacted
- Amends social welfare laws and the 2024 automatic enrolment retirement savings system; specific changes not detailed in provided information.
- Establishes or modifies retirement savings requirements for workers; practical effects depend on amendments not specified here.
- Bill now law; related matters addressed, but full scope of provisions unavailable from title alone.
Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025
23 Dec 2025 Enacted
- Employees can notify employers they don't consent to retire at contractual retirement age and cannot be penalized for doing so.
- Employers cannot enforce retirement before pensionable age unless justified by legitimate business aim with appropriate, necessary means.
- Amends Workplace Relations Act 2015 to protect employees refusing contractual retirement ages and establish legal framework for employer justification.
Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023
1 Dec 2025 Fifth Stage Current Paul Gavan
- Amends the Disability Act 2005 and Equal Status Act 2000 to strengthen disability rights protections and related provisions.
- Changes affect how disability discrimination cases are handled and what protections apply to disabled people in daily life.
- Specific amendments not detailed in title alone; bill at final stage (Fifth Stage) in Oireachtas legislative process.
Health (Amendment) Bill 2025
1 Oct 2025 Committee Stage Current
- Amends Health Act 2004 to change how the Health Service Executive (HSE) is governed and held accountable.
- Gives Minister for Children, Disability and Equality new powers over HSE governance arrangements; both Health and this Minister consult jointly on decisions.
- Bill is currently at Committee Stage; specific governance changes and Minister powers not detailed in title alone.
Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025
25 Jul 2025 Enacted
- Amends Social Welfare Acts to introduce bereaved partner's pension and other welfare changes; details of specific payment amounts and eligibility criteria not provided in available information.
- Makes consequential changes to tax law (Taxes Consolidation Act 1997) related to welfare amendments; specific tax impacts unclear from bill title alone.
- Amends Family Courts Act 2024 and provides related provisions; exact scope of family law changes not specified in long title.
Disability (Personalised Budgets) Bill 2024
26 Jun 2025 Second Stage Current Ollie Crowe
- Amends the Disability Act 2005 to introduce personalised budgets for people with disabilities, allowing them more control over chosen support services.
- Enables service users to receive funding directly or through arrangements that suit their individual needs, rather than standard service provision.
- Specific details on eligibility criteria, budget levels, and implementation timeline not yet publicly available at Second Stage.
Pensions (Amendment) (Transparency in Charges) Bill 2021
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Ged Nash
- Requires pension scheme administrators to disclose all charges imposed on members in clearer, more understandable formats.
- Amends the Pensions Act 1990 to set new transparency rules so members can compare costs across different pension schemes.
- Aims to help pension savers understand what fees they pay and make better decisions about their retirement savings.
Autism Bill 2022
2 May 2025 Committee Stage Current Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
- Government must prepare and publish a national autism strategy outlining support and services for autistic people.
- Bill sets framework for coordinated autism policy across public services but does not specify funding or timelines.
- Currently in Committee Stage; specific provisions unknown as bill text not provided—unable to detail implementation details.
Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2023
24 Apr 2025 Enacted
- Allows the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman to appoint additional ombudspersons to handle increased workload.
- Changes how the Ombudsman's expenses are calculated and recovered from regulated financial services firms.
- Updates investigation procedures and makes technical amendments to the 2017 Ombudsman Act.
Free Provision of Period Products Bill 2021
28 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current Lorraine Clifford-Lee
- Bill requires free provision of period products to people who need them, addressing period poverty.
- Practical effect: Eligible individuals can access menstrual products without cost through a statutory scheme.
- Currently in Committee Stage; specific implementation details, funding mechanism, and eligibility criteria not yet finalized.
Community Participation (Disability) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019
5 Mar 2025 Committee Stage Current John Dolan
- Amends four Acts to improve disabled people's access to buildings, places, and transport services through updated regulations.
- Changes Local Government, Planning, Public Transport, and Building Regulations to require better disability access provisions.
- Activates delayed provisions of the Citizens Information Act 2007 and makes related statutory adjustments.
Social Welfare (Surviving Cohabitant’s Pension) Bill 2021
28 Feb 2025 Second Stage Lapsed Mark Wall
- Amends Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to allow surviving cohabitants to receive contributory pensions, similar to surviving spouses.
- Extends pension entitlements to people in long-term cohabiting relationships who meet contribution requirements.
- Bill lapsed during legislative process; did not become law.
Energy Poverty Reduction (Use of Surplus Renewable Energy) Bill 2025
21 Feb 2025 First Stage Current Paul McAuliffe
- Minister must create a strategy to use surplus renewable energy to help people struggling with energy poverty.
- Strategy must include targets for how much surplus renewable energy will be utilised for this purpose.
- Bill requires the strategy to be published; enforcement mechanism and timeline not specified in long title.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017
20 Feb 2025 Second Stage Lapsed James Reilly
- Requires government to develop and implement a coordinated Autism Spectrum Disorder Strategy across all relevant departments and agencies.
- Bill lapsed in 2017 without becoming law. Did not specify funding, timelines, or measurable outcomes for the strategy.
- Would have mandated cross-departmental cooperation on ASD services, but practical impact and scope details are unclear from title alone.
Finance Bill 2024
6 Feb 2025 Enacted
- Changes tax, stamp duty, and excise rules. Amends four existing Acts covering income tax, social welfare, VAT, and Covid-19 supports.
- Provides financial supports to employers and certain businesses through amended tax and welfare legislation.
- Gives government power to impose, repeal, alter, and regulate taxation and related duties; specifics require detailed section review.
Period Products (Free Provision) Bill 2021
30 Jan 2025 First Stage Lapsed Rebecca Moynihan
- Requires period products (tampons, pads, etc.) to be made freely available to people who need them.
- Aims to remove cost barriers to menstrual hygiene and address period poverty across Ireland.
- Bill did not progress beyond First Stage; lapsed without becoming law.
Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020
30 Jan 2025 First Stage Lapsed Fiona O'Loughlin
- Creates hate crime laws. Adds harsher penalties when listed crimes target people based on asylum status, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, transgender identity, or age.
- Applies to specific offences named in the bill's schedule. Courts must impose increased sentences when hate motivation is proven alongside these base crimes.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage. Not enacted into law; current status of hate crime legislation in Ireland unclear from this bill alone.
Grocery Price Caps Bill 2024
14 Nov 2024 First Stage Lapsed Paul Murphy
- Creates a Grocery Price Caps Commission to set maximum prices for basic foodstuffs.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; not proceeded with in current legislative session.
- Practical effect unclear: specific foodstuffs covered, enforcement mechanisms, and commission powers not detailed in long title.
Children (Amendment) Bill 2023
14 Nov 2024 First Stage Lapsed Patrick Costello
- Expands privacy protections for people accused or convicted of crimes committed when under 18 years old.
- Aims to ensure consistent application of anonymity rules across all cases involving minors and criminal offences.
- Bill did not progress beyond initial parliamentary stage; lapsed without becoming law.
Credit Union (Amendment) Bill 2021
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Marian Harkin
- Expands credit unions' purposes to offer members additional financial services beyond traditional lending, if mutually beneficial.
- Creates a Credit Union Policy Committee to oversee credit union matters and policy development.
- Makes miscellaneous amendments to the Credit Union Act 1997; bill did not progress to law.
Housing (Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability) Bill 2021
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Pauline Tully
- Creates a housing adaptation grant specifically for people with disabilities to help modify their homes for accessibility.
- Aims to simplify the application process and eligibility criteria for qualifying disabled people seeking adaptation funding.
- Bill lapsed before completion; no law was enacted. Practical effect: not implemented.
Social Welfare (Payment Order) (Amendment) Bill 2021
14 Nov 2024 Second Stage Lapsed Claire Kerrane
- Expands Liable Relatives Unit powers to issue Determination Orders for Jobseeker Transitional Payments to one-parent families.
- Enables state to seek Payment Orders from District Court to recover contributions from liable relatives toward payment costs.
- Allows recoupment of welfare benefits from family members legally responsible for financial support of recipients.
Social Welfare Commission Bill 2020
14 Nov 2024 First Stage Lapsed Claire Kerrane
- Creates a commission to review and report annually on whether social welfare payment rates are adequate.
- Commission will make recommendations on social welfare adequacy to the government each year.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; no enacted provisions or practical effect on current law.
Child and Family Agency (Foster Care Oversight) Bill 2018
14 Nov 2024 First Stage Lapsed Denise Mitchell
- Amends the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 to change how foster care is overseen and managed by the agency.
- Specific amendments and their practical effects are not detailed in available bill documentation.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; no further legislative progress occurred.
Maternity Protection, Employment Equality and Preservation of Certain Records Bill 2024
4 Nov 2024 Enacted
- Amends Maternity Protection Act 1994 and Employment Equality Act 1998 to extend maternity protections; allows Oireachtas members to take maternity leave.
- Modifies Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 regarding maternity-related benefits and entitlements for affected workers.
- Requires preservation of specific records from certain institutions and bodies for public interest purposes; details of affected institutions not specified in long title.
Social Welfare Bill 2024
1 Nov 2024 Enacted
- Amends existing Social Welfare Acts; specific changes and affected benefits unclear from title alone.
- Extends provisions of current social welfare legislation; practical scope and duration not specified.
- Includes related matters; bill text needed to identify other provisions and their effects on welfare recipients.
Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2024
17 Oct 2024 Enacted
- Establishes two support schemes for high electricity costs: Scheme IV provides emergency benefit payments to domestic accounts; Submeter Support Scheme II aids submeter customers. Both run until 31 August 2025.
- Assigns roles to electricity suppliers, distribution system operator, and utilities regulator to administer payments. Minister can make regulations to govern scheme operations.
- Makes emergency benefit and submeter payments tax-exempt. Amends Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 to enable this.
Social Welfare Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Updates Social Welfare Acts to change rules for welfare payments, eligibility, or entitlements. Specific changes not detailed in title.
- Makes technical change to Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 connected to welfare amendments. Exact nature of change not specified.
- Enacts related provisions supporting welfare law updates. Bill's full details unavailable; consult enacted legislation for specifics.
Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Creates Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme II to provide one-off payments to domestic electricity customers from bill passage until 30 June 2023, funded by the Environment Ministry.
- Exempts emergency benefit payments from income tax and amends regulations on electricity distribution, supplier registration, and the utility regulator's powers.
- Adjusts the national oil reserves levy rate temporarily and aligns electricity market rules with EU Directive 2019/944.
Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Amends parental leave law to allow employees medical care leave and flexible working rights for caring responsibilities, implementing EU Directive 2019/1158.
- Updates employment laws including redundancy, dismissal, maternity, adoption, working time, minimum wage, and workplace relations acts with work-life balance provisions.
- Specific changes to each act not detailed in title; practical effects depend on amending regulations and statutory instruments not provided here.
EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Allows CRU to direct emergency measures protecting electricity supply; EirGrid can buy power plants with government funding and higher borrowing limits.
- EirGrid can make agreements with electricity generators and receive financial support from the Environment Minister for acquiring generation equipment.
- Amends 1999 Electricity Act to pass certain public service obligation benefits to customers; increases Bord na Móna's borrowing under 1998 Turf Act.
Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Amends 2015 law on assisted decision-making for people with disabilities to better align with UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- Updates jury eligibility, voting rights, and disability authority functions to remove barriers for people with disabilities in civic participation.
- Modifies human rights, freedom of information, and disability laws to strengthen protections and ensure compliance with disability rights convention.
Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Transfers certain health functions from Health Minister to Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
- Requires Health Minister and Children's Minister to consult and share responsibilities on specified health matters.
- Changes Health Service Executive's corporate governance and accountability rules; amends Disability Act 2005 and Health Act 2007.
Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Creates one-off electricity cost emergency benefit payment scheme for domestic households in 2022 due to global energy price spike.
- Gives distribution operators, suppliers, and utilities regulator roles in running scheme; exempt payments from income tax.
- Minister can make regulations to operate scheme; funded from Environment, Climate and Communications budget.
Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Adopted persons and those with incorrect birth registrations can access their birth certificates and related information held by authorities.
- Deceased persons' children/relatives may access their birth or adoption records in certain circumstances; a Contact Preference Register lets people manage who can trace them.
- Adoption Authority and Child and Family Agency provide tracing services; records transferred to them; amendments made to succession, civil registration, and adoption laws.
Higher Education Authority Bill 2022
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Replaces the 1971 Higher Education Authority Act with new governance and oversight powers for higher education providers designated as 'designated institutions.'
- Requires a national tertiary education strategy and strengthens student engagement, equity of access, and support for flexible and lifelong learning.
- Amends governance structures of universities, technological universities, and other colleges, including Trinity College Dublin's historical Letters Patent from 1911.
Social Welfare Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Amends Social Welfare Acts to modify benefits, eligibility, or payment rules; specific changes not detailed in title alone.
- Amends Credit Guarantee Act 2012; practical effect of changes not specified in title.
- Includes related matters; full scope of additional provisions requires reviewing enacted text.
Child and Family Agency (Amendment) Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Transfers specific functions from the Children/Equality Minister to the Education Minister under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013.
- Amends the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 to reflect the reassignment of ministerial responsibilities between two government departments.
- Bill enacted; specific transferred functions not detailed in long title—check amended Act for practical changes to service delivery.
Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 Enacted
- Joint adoptive parents can now choose which partner takes statutory adoption leave instead of default rules applying.
- Parental leave period extended and timeframe for taking it expanded under the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019.
- Child and Family Agency board size increases to nine members; personal injuries guidelines rules updated for courts.
Principles of Social Welfare Bill 2021
11 Sep 2024 First Stage Defeated Seán Sherlock
- Creates a statement of principles to guide how social welfare laws are interpreted and administered by government agencies.
- Establishes a social welfare charter outlining rights to information, advocacy, and support for people applying for or receiving benefits.
- Requires government to promote awareness of social welfare entitlements and gives Citizens Information Board expanded powers to support applicants.
Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2024
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Strengthens enforcement powers for the Child and Family Agency to stop illegal early years services and penalize violations of childcare regulations.
- Brings childminding services under formal regulation for the first time and removes exemptions that previously allowed some childcare to avoid safety rules.
- Updates vetting requirements and child protection procedures across childcare laws to align with stronger enforcement and regulatory standards.
Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Changes how employment contributions are calculated under social welfare law, affecting contribution records and eligibility.
- Creates new jobseeker's pay-related benefit, providing additional income support to people who lose employment.
- Removes requirement to notify people before attaching their income or assets during certain welfare investigations.
Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Bill 2024
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Allows births and deaths to be registered online instead of only in person, streamlining the registration process.
- Creates a formal record of stillbirths and enables death certificates to include corroborated details in certain circumstances.
- Updates related social welfare and civil registration laws to support the new online registration system.
Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Child maintenance payments no longer counted when calculating social welfare benefits. Liable relatives rules removed.
- Non-Irish residents granted permission under International Protection Act 2015 gain clearer welfare eligibility. Two acts amended for consistency.
- Updates social welfare means-testing rules and residency provisions for international protection beneficiaries.
Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Amends Social Welfare Acts to credit contributions for people providing long-term care, affecting State pension (contributory) eligibility.
- Allows voluntary deferral of State pension (contributory) access in certain circumstances, with related Social Welfare Act amendments.
- Amends Sick Leave Act 2022 and Workplace Relations Act 2015; makes other Social Welfare Act changes.
Electricity Costs (Emergency Measures) Domestic Accounts Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Establishes two emergency schemes (Scheme III and Submeter Support) providing electricity cost payments to domestic accounts from enactment until 30 June 2024.
- Exempts emergency benefit and submeter support payments from income tax; amends Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and Taxes Consolidation Act 1997.
- Gives distribution operators, suppliers, and utilities regulator powers to administer schemes; Minister can make operational regulations.
Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Creates new agency to handle domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence; transfers relevant functions from Child and Family Agency to it.
- Amends Child and Family Agency Act 2013 to transfer staff, records, rights, and liabilities to the new violence prevention agency.
- Updates National Archives Act 1986; exact archival changes not specified in title alone—specific amendments require detailed bill text.
Social Welfare (Child Benefit) Bill 2023
30 Aug 2024 Enacted
- Temporarily modifies how section 292 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 applies to child benefit payments.
- Specific changes to section 292's effect and duration are not detailed in the title; full bill text needed for practical impact.
- Includes related provisions beyond the main amendment; scope of 'related matters' unclear from title alone.
Social Welfare Bill 2020
11 May 2021 Enacted
- Updates and extends existing social welfare laws to reflect new circumstances and policy priorities.
- Enables government to adjust welfare payments, eligibility rules, and administration of social welfare schemes.
- Specific amendments not detailed in provided title—consult enacted text for exact changes to benefits or services.
Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020
21 Jan 2021 Enacted
- Amends three Acts governing investment funds: extends Investment Limited Partnerships Act 1994, updates Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles Act 2015, and modifies Investment Funds, Companies Act 2005.
- Updates Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 Schedule 5, affecting social welfare provisions related to investment partnerships and funds.
- Specific amendments and practical effects not detailed in title alone; enactment date and detailed scope changes require full bill text review.
Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020
6 Nov 2020 Enacted
- Records from the Mother and Baby Homes investigation are handed to child welfare agency and youth ministry for safekeeping and access.
- The investigation commission must submit its final report by 30 October 2020 and dissolve on 28 February 2021.
- Clarifies confidentiality rules for investigation evidence and makes a minor amendment to the Judicial Council Act 2019.
Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020
17 Aug 2020 Enacted
- Creates new Covid-19 welfare benefit to help people affected by pandemic economic impacts.
- Amends Social Welfare Acts to treat certain Covid-19 payments as paid social insurance contributions.
- Provides related support measures; enacted to address disease spread economic effects.
Pensions (Equal Pension Treatment in Occupational Benefit Scheme) (Amendment) Bill 2016
20 Apr 2020 Second Stage Lapsed Kevin Humphreys
- Amends Pensions Act 1990 to ensure equal pension benefits for same-sex couples in workplace schemes.
- Addresses cases where employees couldn't marry same-sex partners previously, affecting pension entitlements retroactively.
- Bill lapsed at Second Stage; no record of enactment into law.
Critical Health Professionals Bill 2017
20 Apr 2020 Second Stage Lapsed Mark Daly
- Allows critical health professionals in HSE-funded organisations to postpone mandatory retirement age if both employee and employer agree.
- Applies to staff in organisations funded by Department of Health, HSE, section 38 providers, and other health service providers.
- Removes forced retirement at contractual age for eligible health workers, subject to mutual consent between parties.
Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020
30 Mar 2020 Enacted
- Allows Health Minister to restrict events and premises access via regulations to control Covid-19 spread, with enforcement powers.
- Enables medical officers to order detention of suspected Covid-19 sources in certain circumstances, with enforcement measures.
- Amends welfare laws: expands illness benefit for diagnosed/suspected Covid-19 cases; broadens jobseeker's benefit/allowance to ease economic hardship.
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.
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.
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.)
Insurance (Life Assurance and Life Insurance) (Amendment) Bill 2019
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed James Browne
- Insurers must pay out life insurance/assurance death benefits even if the insured person dies by suicide.
- Applies to all insurers, insurance providers, brokers, and related undertakings offering life policies.
- Bill did not progress beyond First Stage and has lapsed without becoming law.
Pensionable Age Task Force Bill 2019
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed John Brady
- Creates a task force to examine what age people should become eligible for state pensions and recommend appropriate levels.
- Task force must produce a report with its recommendations, then dissolve after completion of its work.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; not enacted into law.
Housing (Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability) Bill 2018
13 Feb 2020 Second Stage Lapsed Willie O'Dea
- Makes housing adaptation grants more accessible for people with disabilities who qualify for them.
- Addresses application processes and eligibility procedures for disability-related home modifications.
- Bill lapsed during Second Stage; did not become law.
Social Welfare Commission Bill 2018
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed John Brady
- Creates a commission to review whether social welfare payment rates are adequate and report findings annually.
- Commission makes recommendations on social welfare adequacy; reports go to the government each year.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; was not enacted into law.
Statute Of Limitations (Amendment) Bill 2018
13 Feb 2020 Second Stage Lapsed Jack Chambers
- Amends Statute of Limitations Act 1957 to allow thalidomide-affected persons extra time to bring legal action for injuries caused by maternal thalidomide ingestion.
- Removes or extends the normal deadline restrictions for people disabled by thalidomide exposure in the womb to sue for compensation.
- Bill did not complete passage through Dáil before dissolving; would have required re-introduction in new session to proceed further.
Shared Maternity Leave and Benefit Bill 2018
13 Feb 2020 Second Stage Lapsed Lisa Chambers
- Amends maternity laws to allow parents to share maternity leave entitlements between them instead of one parent taking all leave.
- Modifies the Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004, and Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 to enable shared leave arrangements.
- Bill lapsed during Second Stage; status as of latest information indicates it did not progress to law.
Social Welfare (Payment Order) (Amendment) Bill 2018
13 Feb 2020 Second Stage Lapsed Willie O'Dea
- Extends Maintenance Recovery Unit's powers to seek court Payment Orders for jobseeker transitional payments to single parents.
- Allows State to recover costs from 'liable relatives' through District Court applications for these specific welfare payments.
- Bill lapsed; did not proceed beyond Second Stage debate.
Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Bill 2017
13 Feb 2020 Second Stage Lapsed John Brady
- Removes specific functions from the Citizens Information Board; details of which functions are not specified in available text.
- Amends the Comhairle Act 2000; practical effect of amendments not detailed in provided information.
- Bill lapsed before completion; never became law. Sponsor: John Brady.
Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017
13 Feb 2020 Second Stage Lapsed
- Updates social welfare rules and benefits under existing Social Welfare Acts; specific amendments not detailed in title alone.
- Modifies the Pensions Act 1990 regarding pension rules; practical changes require viewing bill text.
- Amends Civil Registration Act 2004 for birth, marriage, death records; exact changes unspecified in title.
Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Protection of Pension Property Rights) Bill 2017
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Willie O'Dea
- Proposes constitutional amendment to protect pension property rights from legislative changes.
- Bill lapsed before progressing beyond First Stage; status unclear on specific pension protections intended.
- Sponsored by Willie O'Dea; detailed scope and practical effect not available from provided information.
Civil Liability (Amendment) (Prevention of Benefits from Homicide) Bill 2017
13 Feb 2020 Second Stage Lapsed Jim O'Callaghan
- Prevents people convicted of homicide from inheriting from or claiming benefits from their victim's estate.
- Amends succession law so killers cannot profit financially from causing someone's death through inheritance or legal claims.
- Applies the legal principle that wrongdoing should not create financial advantage, protecting victims' families from this harm.
Pensions (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2017
13 Feb 2020 Second Stage Lapsed Willie Penrose
- Amends the Pensions Act 1990 to modify pension law; specific changes not detailed in title alone.
- Bill did not complete the legislative process; it lapsed before becoming law.
- Sponsored by Willie Penrose; information on related matters and practical effects requires full bill text.
Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017
13 Feb 2020 Second Stage Lapsed Willie O'Dea
- Amends the Pensions Act 1990 to create an appeals process when pension scheme trustees decide to wind up a scheme.
- Gives scheme members a mechanism to challenge or appeal the trustees' decision to wind up their pension scheme.
- Bill lapsed and did not become law; information about specific appeal procedures or timeframes is not available from the long title.
Pensions (Amendment) Bill 2017
13 Feb 2020 First Stage Lapsed Denise Mitchell
- Amends Pensions Act 1990 to stop solvent companies abandoning pension obligations to employees.
- Prevents employers from avoiding responsibility for employee pension schemes when financially able to pay.
- Bill lapsed at First Stage; specific enforcement mechanisms and penalties not detailed in long title alone.
Criminal Justice (Aggravation by Prejudice) Bill 2016
13 Feb 2020 Second Stage Lapsed Fiona O'Loughlin
- Courts must treat crimes more seriously if motivated by prejudice based on race, colour, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or transgender identity.
- Judges can impose harsher sentences when evidence shows an offence was aggravated by such prejudice at the time of commission.
- Bill lapsed before completion; never became law. Would have required courts to consider prejudice-based motivation during sentencing.
Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016
6 Feb 2020 Committee Stage Lapsed
- Implements the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into Irish law across multiple areas.
- Amends jury eligibility, voting rights, equality protections, and disability authority powers to strengthen disability inclusion.
- Updates capacity and decision-making laws; bill did not complete the legislative process.