Tánaiste and Minister Troy provide update on ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ legislation

Tánaiste and Minister Troy provide update on ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ legislation

Remission period for cancer survivors seeking mortgage protection to be reduced to five yearsThreshold for mortgage protection insurance cover to be increased to €650,000Final proposals due before Cabinet in the coming weeks; Passage through the Oireachtas before the summer recess

Today, on Daffodil Day 2026, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris TD, and the Minister of State, Robert Troy TD, have announced that the final proposals underpinning the so-called ‘Right to be Forgotten’ legislation will be brought before Cabinet in the coming weeks.

The new laws will ensure cancer survivors can access mortgage protection insurance on fair and equitable terms.

Following a meeting with the Irish Cancer Society, the Tánaiste and Minister Troy confirmed two key measures underpinning the law:

A reduction in the required remission period from seven years to five years in line with international medical standards.An increase in the sum-assured threshold from €500,000 to €650,000.

The Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 was adopted by Government in July 2025.

Since then, Government amendments to the Bill have been developed in consultation with key stakeholders, including the Irish Cancer Society, to introduce a statutory “right to disregard” for certain cancer-related medical history in the underwriting of mortgage protection insurance.

Building on the Voluntary Code of Practice introduced by Insurance Ireland in December 2023, the Government’s approach is designed to provide legal certainty for survivors of cancer and strengthen the current voluntary framework.

To future-proof the legislation, a provision will allow for the sum-assured threshold to be reviewed in line with the Residential Property Price Index, following consultation with industry representatives, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders.

Speaking today, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris TD said:

“The reforms being introduced under this legislation are designed to make a meaningful difference to the lives of cancer survivors and their families.

“A cancer diagnosis should never define somebody’s financial future or inhibit them from owning their own home. For too long, this sadly has been the case.

“Along with Minister Troy, I’m pleased today to announce clarity on two important components of the new measures.

“Firstly, the remission period for which cancer survivors can avail of mortgage protection will be reduced from seven years to five. The threshold for mortgage protection insurance will be set at €650,000 and this will be the subject of future reviews.

“I look forward to bringing these measures to Government for approval next month and progressing them swiftly through the Oireachtas.

“I’m conscious that these measures have been talked about for many years; Thanks to the work of the Irish Cancer Society and many others, Government is now is a position to put them into action.”

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

The Department of Finance has been working closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government to develop legislation that is legally robust, operationally viable, and fully aligned with EU law. It is expected that the text of the amendments will be presented for Government approval by the end of April, with a view to bringing the legislation through the Houses of the Oireachtas by the end of the summer. Following enactment, the Bill will be subject to a commencement order to allow sufficient time for industry to comply with the new law.

In the existing Voluntary Code of Practice, introduced by Insurance Ireland in December 2023, cancer diagnoses are disregarded after seven years have elapsed from treatment completion, or after five years where the individual was under eighteen at the date of diagnosis, for sums insured up to €500,000.

An independent review of the Voluntary Code by Forvis Mazars in May 2025 found, across the eight firms signed up to the Code, that 1,300 applications were received for a disregard between December 2023 and December 2024. 50% (650) of those applications received cover under the Code of Practice, amounting to €96m sum insured.

For those applications that did not meet the provisions of the Code of Practice, it was due to the applicant not meeting the length of time required under the Code of Practice, the mortgage not being for the applicant’s principal private residence, or other factors. No instance was found of any individual, who met the parameters of the Code of Practice, being refused cover for reasons due to their cancer diagnosis.

The Central Bank (Amendment) Bill was originally introduced in 2022 by Senator Catherine Ardagh and Senator Jerry Buttimer. Deputy Catherine Ardagh and Deputy Erin McGreehan subsequently introduced the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 in February 2025. Following Cabinet approval on 8 July 2025, Government adopted Deputy Ardagh’s Bill as a priority piece of legislation. On 17 July, the Bill passed Second Stage in Dáil Éireann.

In adopting and amending the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025, Government seeks to enshrine a “Right to Disregard” for cancer survivors in Irish law, ensuring they are treated fairly in accessing mortgage protection insurance. The amendments being progressed will provide for a statutory “right to disregard” for certain cancer-related medical history in the underwriting of mortgage protection insurance. While colloquially referred to as a “Right to be Forgotten”, the legislation provides for the medical history of cancer survivors to be disregarded when applying for mortgage protection insurance.