Autumn legislative programme published

Hildegarde Naughton

Some 29 bills will be prioritised for publication and 32 bills for drafting over the Dáil session ahead.

Hildegarde Naughton said: “Since my appointment as government chief whip in December 2022, government has overseen the enactment and publication of 148 pieces of legislation, all of which contribute towards making life a little bit easier for families, for workers, for farmers and for society as a whole.

“Since the formation of this government [in June 2020], 211 bills have been published and 203 bills have been enacted.”

She continued: “Last year, government increased the maximum penalty for assault causing harm from five years to 10 years, introduced new standalone offences of non-fatal strangulation and stalking and the maximum sentence for assaulting gardaí and frontline workers was also increased from seven years to 12 years.

“This Dáil term will build on this progress through the drafting of the Life Sentences Bill. This priority legislation will allow judges to recommend a minimum period to be served in custody before a person is released on parole, reflecting the circumstances of the case and the harm caused.

“Government will prioritise the publication of a bill that will remove the ability of employers to force workers to retire once they reach state pension age.

“The Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill will result in a worker being permitted to continue working beyond the mandatory retirement age, which will help address misconceptions around a person’s ability to work being linked with their age.

“Separately, Government will publish legislation to address issues related to parentage and citizenship arising from the use of fertility clinics abroad by Irish residents and Irish citizens living abroad through publication of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (No.2) Bill.

“The Department of Health will also continue work on the Public Health (Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill which will see disposable and flavoured vapes banned.

“Members of the Oireachtas currently do not have an entitlement to maternity leave should they become pregnant during their time as an elected representative in the Dáil or Seanad. We want to remove any potential barriers to people entering politics and so Government will publish the Maternity Protection (Amendment) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill this session.”

She concluded: “Some of the key achievements in the summer Dáil session just passed include the enactment of legislation providing for the establishment of an auto enrolment savings system; Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 providing legal recognition for parents of children born through surrogacy, in addition to the banning of the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes to children.”