Welcome to the Houses of the Oireachtas

Legislative Observatory 1992 - 2017

Detailed information is available online including the full text of all bills as initiated (including explanatory memoranda), as amended, and as passed by each or both houses; amendments tabled; Acts of the Oireachtas and official translations; and  links to debates on bills.

New Bills

• Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017 [PMB] (Number 105 of 2017)
• Waste Reduction (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 [PMB] (Number 104 of 2017)
• Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Blasphemy) Bill 2017 [PMB] (Number 103 of 2017)
• Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2017 [PMB] (Number 102 of 2017)
• International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017 [Seanad] [PMB] (Number 101 of 2017)

Latest Publications  

Research Matters

Election Results infographic
This Infographic outlines key statistics from results of General Election 2016. It is in both English and Irish. ‌
The Oireachtas Library & Research Service has produced a short booklet for Oireachtas members that displays the results of the 2016 General election through maps. To download the booklet or individual maps please click here

‌Pay-by-weight waste charges: worth the weight?
Published on 06th June 2017
This L&RS Note provides a background to Irish and European Union (EU) waste management law and policy. As waste is a large, technical and complex area, this research paper  focuses on waste law and policy relevant to municipal waste, which includes household waste.‌  

Assisted Decision Making
Published on May 16th 2017
This Note looks at the reforming legislation that is the Assisted Decision- Making (Capacity) Act 2015. The overall objective of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 is to put in place a modern legislative framework to support those with capacity difficulties and which complies with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Economic Indicators June 2017    

The Economics Indicators are drafted by economists in the Oireachtas Library and Research Service and look at key indicators in relation to the Irish economy.Produced at the end of each month, Economics Indicators has been relaunched in April 2016 as an infographic series which looks at key indicators of the Irish economy.  

Government Gross Voted Expenditure (Current & Capital Ceilings) (2017)

See all Research publications

Public Petitions

The Oireachtas Public Petitions System presents an important new avenue for individuals to participate in the democratic process. Through submitting petitions online and by post, members of the public will be able to take their policy concerns directly to the heart of the Oireachtas.

• Get involved and make a petition
• Log of submitted petitions