Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

118. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a timeline for the implementation of right-to-be-forgotten legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39366/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would like to thank the Deputy for their question.

The Government is firmly committed to advancing this important legislative reform and it is a key commitment in the Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future. I am pleased to confirm that Cabinet has agreed to bring the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 forward before the summer recess. The Bill will give legal effect to the Right to be Forgotten in Irish law and ensure that cancer survivors are no longer discriminated against when accessing mortgage protection insurance.

The legislation builds on the Voluntary Code of Practice, introduced by Insurance Ireland in December 2023, which disregards a cancer diagnosis once treatment ended more than seven years before the date of application—or more than five years in the case of those diagnosed under the age of 18. The Code applies to mortgage protection insurance policies up to €500,000, has been fully adopted by the eight participating insurers. A recent independent review of the Code’s first year of operation, carried out by Forvis Mazars and published in May 2025, found that the Code is working well and that it has improved access to cover for cancer survivors.

The decision to legislate follows engagement with key stakeholders, including Deputy Catherine Ardagh, who originally proposed the measure, and reflects the Government’s determination to put these protections on a statutory footing. While the voluntary approach has demonstrated a strong sectoral commitment, this piece of legislation will provide legal certainty and ensure uniformity across all market participants.

In bringing forward this legislation, we are also mindful of the need to ensure alignment with EU regulatory requirements, in particular the Solvency II Directive . The drafting process is therefore being undertaken with careful consideration of the implications for prudential regulation, and the classification of insurance risks, to ensure that the objectives of the Bill are achieved without any unintended impacts on financial stability or market functioning.

In conclusion, this legislation reflects the Government commitment that a cancer diagnosis, once an individual has completed treatment and achieved defined recovery milestones, should not be a barrier to financial inclusion. The Bill represents an important step in building a fairer and more compassionate insurance framework, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the Oireachtas to ensure its passage into law.