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

• Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Protection of Pension Property Rights) Bill 2017 [PMB] (Number 82 of 2017)
• Legal Metrology (Measuring Instruments) Bill 2017 (Number 81 of 2017)
• Waste Reduction Bill 2017 [PMB] (Number 80 of 2017)
• Industrial Relations (Defence Forces) (Amendment) Bill 2017 [PMB] (Number 79 of 2017)
• Rugby World Cup 2023 Bill 2017 (Number 78 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.

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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

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).

EU Law and local residency                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Published on 09th May 2017
This Note discusses the 2013 judgment of the EU Court of Justice in Libert and Others v. Flemish Government and Others, referred to as ‘the Flemish Decree case’. That case concerned regional housing ordinances that discriminated in favour of local residents and people with established ties to a community.

‌FAQs on the triggering of Article 50
Published 28th March 2017
This L&RS Note has been drafted in the context of the announcement that the UK Government intends to trigger Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) on Wednesday 29th March 2017. In doing so, it will formally start the process by which the UK will leave the EU.

 Economic Indicator May 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