Bill

Purpose

Status

Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2014

To amend the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 to provide for a requirement for registered medical practitioners to have medical indemnity insurance except in certain circumstances and to give effect to Article 4(2)(d) of Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare.

Second Stage (Dáil)

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016

To amend the Irish Medicines Board Act 1995, the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009, the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 and the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015.

Order for Second Stage (Dáil)

Health Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill

To provide for the extension of HIQA’s functions to encompass regulation in the area of medical ionising radiation protection.

Heads expected end 2016; pre-legislative scrutiny to follow

Health (Transport Support) Bill

To provide for a scheme to make individual payments as a contribution towards transport costs to people with severe disabilities who cannot access public transport.

Heads of bill expected July 2016

Patient Safety (Licensing of Healthcare Facilities) Bill

To provide for a mandatory system of licensing for public and private healthcare facilities.

Heads of bill expected end 2016

Health Information and Patient Safety Bill

To provide a legislative framework for the better governance of health information, initiatives including data matching and health information resources for use in the health service and support for clinical audit and patient safety notifications. It will also provide for the extension of HIQA’s remit to private health service providers.

To be published as soon as possible

New Children’s Hospital Establishment Bill

To establish a statutory body to provide paediatric acute services in Dublin at the new children’s hospital, taking over those services currently provided by Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin, Temple Street and the paediatric service at Tallaght Hospital. It will also make amendments relating to the functions of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Establishment) Order.

Heads of bill expected July 2016

Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015

To provide for minimum unit pricing for retailing of alcohol products; to regulate the advertising and sponsorship of alcohol; to provide for a structural separation of alcohol from other products in mixed trading outlets; to provide for health labelling of alcohol products; and to regulate the sale and supply of alcohol in certain circumstances.

Committee Stage (Seanad)

Public Health (Sale of Tobacco Products and Non-Medicinal Nicotine Delivery Systems) Bill

To provide for the introduction of a licensing system for the sale of tobacco products and a licensing system for the sale of non-medicinal nicotine delivery systems (NMNDS), to prohibit the sale of tobacco products from temporary or mobile units/containers, at events/locations primarily intended for persons under 18 years of age and by persons under 18 years of age and to prohibit the sale of NMNDS by persons under 18 years of age and to persons under 18 years of age.

Heads of bill are currently being drafted

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill

To amend risk equalisation credit rates and corresponding stamp duty levies payable under the Risk Equalisation Scheme.

Not indicated

Assisted Human Reproduction Bill

To provide a legislative framework for the regulation of assisted human reproduction practices and stem cell research.

Heads of bill currently being developed

Health & Wellbeing (Calorie Posting and Workplace Wellbeing) Bill

To require food premises to display calories on menus and to require all public sector employers to have and to report on a Health and Wellbeing policy.

Heads of bill are currently being drafted

Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill

To amend the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, the Dental Act 1985, the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, the Pharmacy Act 2007, the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 and the Health Acts 1953 and 2004 to provide for 1) amendments required by the transposition of Directive 2013/55/EU on the recognition of professional qualifications and administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System; 2) an appeal against minor sanctions; and 3) amendments in relation to a number of other issues including amendments to the registration of medical practitioners.

Heads of bill approved on 17 November 2015

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill

To control certain drugs, including prescription medicines, which are being misused and sold illegally.

Expected publication date: June/July 2016

Open Disclosures Bill

To deal with supporting the open disclosure to patients of patient safety incidents. Part of a broader package of measures aimed at improving the experience of those who are affected by adverse events within the health system.

Heads of bill approved in November 2015; pre-legislative scrutiny to take place shortly