Acts

Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014: Among other matters, this Act merges the National Consumer Agency and Competition Authority. The Act will enter into force on 31 October 2014. On the same date, the new Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will be established. View the Act here.

Health Insurance Act 1994 (Section 11E(2)) (No. 3) Regulations 2014: These Regulations, made by the Health Insurance Authority, specify that The Health Insurance Authority is satisfied that certain relevant contracts (refers to one product only) do not provide for advanced cover. These Regulations came into operation on 29 August 2014. View the Regulations here.

Regulations

Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Sections 20 and 22) (Amendment) Regulations 2014: These Regulations prescribe 6 new PCFs under the fitness and probity regime.  The Regulations are accompanied by non-statutory guidance on these amendments, which aim to assist regulated financial service providers in complying with their obligation under the new Regulations.  These Regulations come into operation on 31 December 2014.  View the Regulations here and Guidance here.

European Communities (Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts) (Amendment) Regulations 2014: These Regulations make the Commission for Communications Regulation an “authorised body” for the purposes of the European Communities (Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts) Regulations, 1995. As an “authorised body”, the Commission may apply to the Circuit Court or the High Court for a declaration or an injunction for the purposes of enforcing the Regulations. These Regulations came into operation on 17 July 2014.  View the Regulations here.

Health Insurance Act 1994 (Determination of Relevant Increase under section 7A and Provision of Information under section 7B) Regulations 2014: These Regulations provide for premium loadings to be applied to in-patient indemnity health insurance contracts purchased on and from 1 May 2015 and require registered undertakings to set different premium prices depending on the age at which an individual takes out health insurance.  These Regulations came into operation on 1 August 2014. View the Regulations here.

Bills

Health Insurance (Reform) Bill 2014: The Health Insurance (Reform) Bill 2014 has been published as a Private Members Bill commencing in the Seanad. The Bill reforms the regulation of the health insurance sector and for that purpose vests responsibility for the management of the State’s ownership of VHI in the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.  It provides the regularisation of VHI’s regulatory status.  It also dissolves the Health Insurance Authority and confers responsibility for the regulation of health insurance providers on the Central Bank of Ireland. View the Bill here.

Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2014: This Bill has been published as a Government Bill commencing in the Seanad on 30 July 2014.  The Bill requires that medical practitioners who are engaged in medical practice provide evidence to the Medical Council that they hold an adequate minimum level of medical indemnity insurance. A minimum level of indemnity will, following consultation, be set for various classes of medical practitioners by the Medical Council. A medical practitioner will only require indemnity if s/he falls within a class of medical practitioners specified as requiring indemnity.  View the Bill here.