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Illness & disease

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Enacted

Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025

It would stop insurers from treating a past cancer diagnosis against someone when they apply for mortgage protection insurance on their main home, as long as they are within the cover limits set out in the law. It would also set the maximum amount of cover where this “right to be forgotten” applies, so survivors are not unfairly pushed into worse terms or turned away. Alongside that, it would update older insurance laws on winding up insurers and on payments into the Insurance Compensation Fund.
Dáil

Access to rare disease medicines

Deputy O'Sullivan described the distress of families waiting for treatment for Friedreich's ataxia. The Minister for Health said Ireland needed a better system for rare disease access and that she would pursue a European and domestic solution.
Dáil

Skyclarys for Friedreich's ataxia

Deputy O'Meara relayed a constituent's plea for access to Skyclarys to slow deterioration from Friedreich's ataxia. The Tánaiste said the drugs process needs broader review and that the current steps aim to assess the medicine properly.
Dáil

Friedreich's ataxia access to treatment

Mary Lou McDonald raised Cara Darmody’s protest, assessments of need, and the urgent plight of people with Friedreich’s ataxia. The Tánaiste said he recognised the seriousness, outlined the HSE rare diseases process, and gave a four-week timeline; McDonald and others pressed him on delay and deterioration.
Seanad

Bowel cancer waiting times

Senator Nelson Murray highlighted bowel cancer waiting times, saying the target is 28 days and contrasting national concern with strong recent performance in Navan.
Seanad

Business grants for security surveillance

After another visitor welcome, Senator Davitt suggested that rather than only expanding surveillance, businesses with suitable shopfronts should be supported by grants to improve security.
Seanad

Cavan hospital child care

Senator Tully raised a 12-year-old boy's delayed treatment in Cavan General Hospital and alleged that no doctor came despite repeated calls overnight.
Current

Equal Status (Access to Toilet Facilities) Bill 2026

People with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, other bowel conditions, or an ostomy device would have a legal right to use staff-only toilets in retail shops that do not offer customer toilets, if the shop has enough staff on duty and there is no immediate health, safety or security risk. They would need to show approved proof of their condition, which could include a phone app or card approved by the Minister for Health. If a retailer refuses without good reason, it would count as disability discrimination under the Equal Status Acts, giving the person a route to make a complaint or seek redress.