# Legislation
Last month
May 2023
Voices
Opinion: New legislation reforming garda and oversight bodies isn't in line with best practice
Doireann Ansbro of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties says the proposed reforms of Garda bodies doesn’t go far enough.
This year
2023
Voices
Analysis: The six-month rule for Mother and Baby Homes redress does not add up
Barrister Seán Beatty says the government’s six-month rule around compensation is impossible to justify.
# open all hours
Housing, healthcare, cost-of-living and late-night pub opening on the agenda as Dáil returns
Varadkar looking for a ‘fresh start’ to his tenure as Taoiseach as he tries to shake up Govt priorities.
Last year
2022
Voices
Gino Kenny: It's time to decriminalise the possession of cannabis for personal use
The People Before Profit TD says his bill will provide a stepping stone to a more progressive drugs policy in Ireland.
# Legislation
Bill to be introduced that would legalise personal use of cannabis
It’s set to be introduced by People Before Profit, but would have to get Dáil approval to progress.
# Hate speech
New laws on hate speech includes provision to protect freedom of expression, says minister
Government has been called on to ensure new laws comply with principles of proportionality and necessity.
Voices
Opinion: Longtermism - what is it and why should we embrace it in legislation?
Marc Ó Cathasaigh of the Green Party says legislators should always consider future generations.
Bereavement leave could be paid out of the Social Insurance Fund in the future
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar also said he’d like his remote working law to be enacted by Christmas.
Tánaiste says the Social Insurance Fund could support those taking bereavement leave in the future.
Such a move would prevent a cost being imposed on employers but would ensure employees don't lose out on pay.
Varadkar also says he wants the right to request remote working legislation to be passed by Christmas.
# protocol problems
UK bill to unilaterally change Northern Ireland Protocol will be published on Monday
The Taoiseach said the UK’s plans to act unilaterally over the protocol would be “deeply damaging”.
Voices
Roderic O'Gorman: We hope today's legislation will right decades of wrongs against adopted people
Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman reacts to the new Birth Information and Tracing Bill launched today.
# New Law
Adopted people will no longer have to attend mandatory information session when seeking records
The long-awaited Birth Information and Tracing Bill will be published today.
All time
# Your Say
Poll: Should shops that sell cigarettes to minors be banned from selling them for a few days?
Shops that sell cigarettes to minors are to be banned for up to a month, under new legislation.
# Legislation
Taoiseach says Covid has 'exacerbated' volume of legislation, as politicians discuss President's letter
Michael D Higgins says he received nine Bills in one day.
# Cannabis
Mexico top court decriminalises recreational marijuana use
Pro-legalisation campaigners said the Supreme Court ruling left cannabis users facing many uncertainties.
# Mobile Phones
New legislation to allow gardaí demand passwords for devices when carrying out search warrant
The overhaul of how gardaí operate includes a new power for gardaí to request passwords or encryption keys.
# Housing
Cabinet approves Affordable Housing Bill aimed at boosting supply
Aspects of the bill, including its shared equity scheme for first-time buyers, have been criticised.
# private security
New laws approved to regulate private security operators employed to enforce eviction orders
The Private Security Services (Amendment) Bill 2021 has been approved by Cabinet.
# burials bill
'There can be no more messing about': Push for law to allow exhumations at mother and baby homes
Legislation being debated today would allow excavations, exhumations and re-interment of remains at the sites of former mother and baby homes.
Legislation being debated today would allow excavations, exhumations and re-interment of remains at the sites of former mother and baby homes
Catherine Corless says as many sites as possible must be included
"The babies should have been taken out of there in 2017 when they were found," she says of Tuam
# Legislation
Bill to allow child murder victims to be named could be made law by end of March, McEntee says
The Bill has passed through all stages of the Seanad.
# Limerick
Government approves drafting of legislation for new role of directly elected mayor for Limerick
Limerick is the first city that will have a directly-elected mayor after locals voted for the move in 2019.
# Legislation
Dozens protest outside Áras an Uachtaráin over Mother and Baby Homes Bill
President Michael D Higgins yesterday signed the Bill into law.
# Legislation
President Higgins signs Mother and Baby Homes Bill into law
The President pointed out that his decision to sign the legislation “leaves it open to any citizens to challenge the provisions of the bill”.
# Database
Legal advice is that GDPR is 'prohibited' by 2004 Act on Mother and Baby Homes Commission - Department
The minister has defended the legislation but said he regrets poorly communicating what it intends to do.
# Sealed
Q&A: What is the mother and baby home legislation passed in the Oireachtas this week?
The Bill allows the transfer of a database of 60,000 records compiled by the commission to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
# Brexit
NI protocol must be honoured, pro-Remain parties say amid reports UK 'plans to rip up Brexit Agreement'
Political leaders have described the reported plans as a “treacherous betrayal” by “charlatans”.
# House parties
Cabinet to meet today to consider new Garda enforcement powers
The government want gardaí to be given powers to interrupt and prevent house parties and social gatherings in breach of the guidelines.
# Legislation
Government seeks advice from Attorney General over new garda laws
Gardaí will be given greater ability to police new public health measures.
# Pay Day
Micheál Martin to be paid more as Taoiseach than Varadkar was after 'pay cut'
Martin will be paid almost €1,500 more than Varadkar was in the last government, despite a 10% cut to the official level of pay.
# Law
Senators to begin High Court action to clarify if Seanad can legislate
Eleven seats in the Seanad are vacant as a new Taoiseach has not yet been elected.
# regulation
Simon Harris: We need more measures to 'toughen up' on self-isolation for people entering country
The minister said he would like this requirement backed up by the law.
Voices
Tom Clonan: Ireland's ICU guidelines for Covid-19 must safeguard people with disabilities
Rationing of critical care during any coronavirus surge must not happen at the expense of the most vulnerable, writes Clonan.
# Coronavirus
Emergency Covid-19 legislation passes all stages in the Dáil
The government included a sunset clause for the legislation to be review in November after concerns were raised by TDs.
# waiting staff
FactCheck: Has Fine Gael's Regina Doherty ensured waiting staff are legally entitled to 100% of their tips?
The claim was criticised by Sinn Féin who called it “false and misleading”.
# Let's Get Together
Taoiseach says he'll meet Micheál Martin for new year talks about keeping this government going
Leo Varadkar says he will reply to the Fianna Fail leader’s letter next week.
# General Election
Martin says he's trying to be the 'sane voice' and calls on Varadkar to agree election date
Martin says a legislative priority programme must be agreed for after Christmas.
# Transparency
New legislation will regulate political advertising on social media
The move comes amid an international debate about how social media platforms handle political ads.
# exclusion zones
Drew Harris says existing legislation adequate in dealing with protests outside abortion centres
In July, Minister Simon Harris said exclusion zones outside hospitals and GP surgeries will be a “major priority”.
# law reform
Should the law be changed to introduce caps on personal injury claims? A review has been launched
Reviews are also set to be carried out in areas of law concerning hotel liability and privacy in the digital era.
Voices
Opinion: New laws to ban 'upskirting' and 'revenge porn' are welcome but stalking should also be defined as a crime
The Law Reform Commission says stalking should be defined as a crime and the introduction of stalking laws in the UK resulted in an increase in prosecutions, writes Catherine O’Sullivan.
# Cannabis
The Explainer: Can Ireland grow its own medicinal cannabis?
This will make it significantly less of a grey area in Irish law – and it could also herald the start of the Irish cannabis industry.
