I am pleased to bring before the House today the Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025. As Senators may be aware, this legislation originated as the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025, a Private Member's Bill introduced by Deputy Catherine Ardagh. I take this opportunity to acknowledge and commend Deputy Ardagh on her unwavering commitment in bringing this important issue to national attention. Her sustained advocacy, both in introducing the Bill and in championing it previously in the Seanad, has been instrumental in progressing this matter to its current stage. Her agreement, her work and the commitment in the programme for Government have enabled me to prioritise the progression of this hugely important Bill through the Dáil. Government has made amendments to ensure that it delivers, in a practical and legally robust manner, on its core objective, which is to provide meaningful protections for cancer survivors seeking access to mortgage protection insurance for their principal private residence. The Bill now comes before this House in a strengthened and carefully considered form.
At its heart, this legislation is about something very simple but very profound - fairness and dignity. For many people, completing cancer treatment should mark the beginning of a new chapter. It should be a moment when life begins to open up again, when plans can be made, stability rebuilt and the future approached with hope and confidence. Yet, for too many cancer survivors, barriers persist long after treatment has ended. That is not merely a difficulty; it is a fundamental unfairness. Surviving cancer should not leave someone disadvantaged when trying to access financial services or buying a home. This Bill seeks to address that unfairness. It gives effect to a principle that I believe resonates across this House and far beyond it, which is that a cancer diagnosis should not define a person’s future.
In bringing the legislation forward, I have been guided by a careful and evidence-based approach and through detailed analysis and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, representatives of the insurance industry, the Irish Society of Medical Oncologists, the Society of Actuaries in Ireland, the Irish Cancer Society, and other member states that have similar measures in place, in order to develop legislation that moves the framework from a voluntary to a legislative footing. The result of that work is the Bill now before the House.
One of the most important developments has been moving from a right to be forgotten to a right to disregard. This is not simply a technical distinction. It is a carefully designed framework that allows insurers to collect information on past diagnoses to ensure transparency and compliance but that does not allow such information to be used to set premiums or deny mortgage protection insurance once eligibility thresholds are met. The disregard approach strikes the right balance between consumer protection, transparency and legal certainty.
The Bill, as amended, provides that, where an individual has completed active cancer treatment and has remained in remission for a period of five years, their cancer history must be disregarded for the purposes of mortgage protection insurance. Five years is internationally recognised as the point at which cancer surveillance intensity often reduces, recurrence risk drops substantially, and patients are frequently considered functionally cured. This standard is supported by the Irish Society of Medical Oncologists and the five-year threshold, regardless of age, is aligned with a number of other EU member states' approaches. It is a step further than the voluntary code of practice, which set the threshold at seven years. I personally wanted to make this improvement and I am pleased to have been able to do so. The Bill, as amended, also ensures that these protections are meaningful in the real world. It increases the level of mortgage protection cover to which the disregard applies to €650,000. Insurers' normal underwriting process shall apply to any amount of mortgage protection insurance cover that exceeds that maximum amount, reflecting the realities of the housing market. Again, this goes further than previous iterations.
Some Senators may ask why the Bill focuses solely on cancer survivors and mortgage protection insurance and does not cover other financial products or medical conditions. The answer is one of prioritisation and pragmatism. In legislation and policy, it is vital to take a stepwise approach, similar to other EU member states, focusing first on where the need is greatest and where there is the clearest evidence base. Mortgage protection insurance is a critical financial product tied directly to one of the most fundamental aspects of life, that is, securing your own home. It is the area where protections are most urgently needed. Expanding the scope prematurely without detailed actuarial and legal groundwork could introduce unintended consequences that could delay protection for cancer survivors or indirectly impact other financial service products and insurance premiums for other consumers. It was prudent of the Government to ensure that these consequences were avoided.
It is important to recognise that this legislation builds on progress already made. The voluntary code introduced by Insurance Ireland in December 2023 demonstrated that change was possible and that the insurance sector was willing to engage constructively. An independent review found that the code was broadly effective but also highlighted its limitations. When it comes to rights, voluntary arrangements can only go so far. This Bill moves away from a voluntary framework to one that provides legal certainty, thereby ensuring consistency, enforceability and protection for cancer survivors. The Bill also incorporates a number of targeted amendments to the wider insurance framework, ensuring that it is fully integrated within the broader regulatory system and aligned with EU requirements. These amendments, while technical, are important in maintaining the strength and stability of the sector as a whole.
Sadly, having lost two siblings of my own, I know only too well the impact cancer has on families.
Many people in this room also know the impact cancer has had on families. Thankfully, today many people today are living full lives after cancer because of the advances in treatment and care. This is really important. If they have come through that journey, then we as politicians and policymakers should do everything we can to help them to move forward, and not place barriers in their path. In essence, public service, at its best, is about addressing real problems in people’s lives and removing barriers where we can. It really is heartening to see such cross-party collaboration in this regard. This legislation cannot undo what people have been through. It cannot lessen the personal journey or the loss that some families have experienced, but it can remove an unjust barrier. It makes life fairer. It can give people a genuine chance to move forward with confidence, hope and dignity. Ultimately, that is what this Bill is about. It is about fairness in the most practical sense. It is about recognising the resilience of people who have overcome one of life’s greatest challenges, and helping to ensure that surviving cancer marks the beginning of a new chapter, not the continuation of unnecessary barriers.
I want to acknowledge the many stakeholders whose hard work, determination and advocacy have helped to shape this legislation, in particular the Irish Cancer Society and Insurance Ireland. I also want to acknowledge the exceptional dedication and work of the civil servants working in this section in my Department, who have been ever so helpful in ensuring we get this legislation to where we are today. I want to thank every survivor who wrote, called or mentioned to me in passing the impact that this legislation would have on their lives and the importance of ensuring it is enacted without delay. I know all Members of the House will support the Bill and will work constructively with us to demonstrate that we stand together for cancer survivors. I look forward to the contributions of Senators and to a constructive and thoughtful debate.
