Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2009 (Rejected by government)
This Bill aims to move the DDDA under the auditing and investigating remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General in order to provide greater accountability and transparency.
 Copy of Bill

Cluster Munitions Bill 2008 (Rejected by government but portions later adopted by government.)
A Bill to ban the use of cluster munitions and to prohibit financing or trade of cluster munitions.
 Copy of Bill

Victims Rights’ Bill 2008 (Rejected by government)
This Bill provides that victims of crime should be kept fully informed during the investigation of and prosecution of a crime. It also provides that victims can make victim impact statements before sentencing of a crime.
 Copy of Bill


Criminal Law (Admissibility of Evidence) Bill 2008 (Rejected by government)
A Bill to rebalance the conduct of criminal trials to allow evidence gathered to be used in the prosecution’s case. The Bill provides that where an error has been made in the gathering of evidence in a criminal trial, that it shall be for the Judge to determine whether it shall be admissible taking into account the scale, scope and circumstances of the error and the constitutional rights of the accused. The current position is that such evidence is automatically excluded.
 Copy of Bill


Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Protection of Debtors) Bill 2009 (Rejected by government)
This Bill provides for the regulation of debt collectors and provides that the threatening harassment of debtors shall be a criminal offence.
 Copy of Bill


Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill 2009 (Rejected by government)
This Bill provides that that the force used by a person against an intruder within their dwelling shall be presumed to be reasonable. It also provides that where a violent offence is committed by an intruder within the victim’s dwelling, the judge must consider it an aggravating factor in sentencing.
 Copy of Bill


Small Claims (Protection of Small Businesses) Bill 2009 (Accepted by government)
This Bill provides that businesses and vendors may use small claims procedure to recover outstanding monies owed to them to help their cash flow and retain jobs.
 Copy of Bill


Food (Fair Trade and Information) Bill 2009 (Published)
The objective of this Bill is to identify specific practices which are harmful to employment and investment in the food industry and from which consumers derive no benefit. It is also designed to produce regulation that is simple, does not impose an excessive burden of business and is proportionate in terms of its impact on compliance.
 Copy of Bill

Industrial Relations (Protection of Employment) Bill 2009 (Published)
This Bill reforms the Joint Labour Committee system to protect vulnerable workers and provide for consensus between employers and employees to be the basis of wage agreements in order to protect low paid jobs.
 Copy of Bill


Criminal Justice (Violent Crime Prevention) Bill 2009 (Published)
This Bill provides that the sentence for murder should be 25 years. It increases the penalty for possession knives and firearms, introduce new Criminal Organisation Civil Restriction Orders to tackle gangland crime.
 Copy of Bill


Public Appointments Transparency Bill 2008 (Rejected by government)
This Bill provides for oversight by Oireachtas Committees of Ministerial appointments to the position of Chief Executive or Chairperson of the Board in statutory agencies.
 Copy of Bill


Data Protection (Disclosure) (Amendment) Bill 2008 (Published)
This Bill provides that the Data Commissioner must be notified where there is a breach of the security of a data system holding personal information. It also provides that the data subject shall be notified of a breach which affects the security of sensitive personal data and that the Data Commissioner can make a balanced decision as to whether the data subjects of a breach which affects their personal data shall be notified.
 Copy of Bill


Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2008 (Published)
This Bill abolishes the limit of damages that can be awarded for mental distress in fatal injuries cases. The limit is currently €25,394.76 which falls to be divided among all the statutory dependents of the deceased. In future the amount to be awarded for mental distress is to be determined by the presiding judge in the case.
 Copy of Bill


Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2009 (Published)
This Bill limits the number of Ministers of State to 12, down from the current number of 20.
 Copy of Bill


Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction (Fixed Penalty) (Amendment) Bill 2009 (Published)
This Bill creates a fixed penalties system for over-fishing, instead of the onerous penalties that exist at the moment.
 Copy of Bill


Civil Liability (Good Samaritan and Volunteer) Bill 2009 (Published)
This Bill implements the draft Bill published by the Law Reform Commission. It prevents any liability accruing for persons who assist at scene of an accident. It is a follow-up to FG Bill of same name in 2005 published by Billy Timmins.
 Copy of Bill


Medical Practitioner (Professional Indemnity) (Amendment) Bill 2009 (Accepted by government)
This Bill provides that the medical council must develop regulations to require doctor to prove appropriate professional indemnity insurance in place before issue of practice certificate.
 Copy of Bill


Credit Institutions (Financial Support) (Amendment) Bill 2009 (Published)
This Bill makes provision for the appointment by the Minister of Finance of the Director of Corporate Enforcement to investigate any matter relating to the operation of a building society.
 Copy of Bill