Stages of a Bill

A Bill can start its life in either of the Houses of the Oireachtas, with the exception of Bills that deal solely with taxation or expenditure, which are called money Bills, and Bills to amend the Constitution. Both of these types of Bill must be introduced in the Dáil.

Irrespective of the House in which it originated, a Bill will need to complete nine procedural stages, five in the first House and four in the second House, before it can be sent to the President for signature and promulgation as an Act.

First Stage

On First Stage the Bill is initiated. There are two methods of initiating a Bill, introduction and presentation.

"Introduction" is the method used to initiate Private Members' Bills. Government Bills are initiated by way of presentation; this means a Bill can be published without the prior permission of the Houses.

Second Stage 

On Second Stage, the general principles of the Bill are debated. Second Stage of a Bill is a debate on the motion "That the Bill be now read a Second Time" and provides Members with an opportunity to discuss the general principles of the Bill, what the Bill contains and what might be included in a relevant way.

Third ("Committee") Stage

Third Stage, which is also called Committee Stage, involves detailed consideration of the Bill, with separate decisions on each section and each amendment.

Committee Stage is usually taken in a select committee of the Dáil and a committee of the whole Seanad. Some Bills, generally urgent Bills or those affecting a number of Departments, may be examined in a committee of the whole Dáil.

Fourth ("Report") Stage

On Fourth Stage, which is also called Report Stage, amendments arising out of or dealing with issues discussed on Committee Stage are considered.

Fifth ("Final") Stage

On Fifth Stage, the Bill is passed by the House. It is a relatively short stage when the House reviews and accepts the Bill, and there is usually little general contribution.

When the Bill passes all Stages in one House it is then sent to the other House for the same process to be repeated. The House in which a Bill is initiated is known as the "First House", with the other House being known as the "Second House". Where the Second House makes amendments to a Bill, the amendments are returned to the First House for its agreement.