Ireland's Department of Finance announced that the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 has passed Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann, advancing legislation that would require insurers to disregard certain cancer-related medical history when underwriting mortgage protection insurance once set conditions are met. The Bill would place a statutory and enforceable right to disregard into Irish law, replacing the current voluntary code and addressing difficulties cancer survivors can face in obtaining cover needed to secure a home. Measures agreed at Committee Stage include a right to disregard cancer-related medical history once treatment has been completed and the applicant has been in remission for five years, and an increase in the mortgage protection threshold to EUR 650,000 from EUR 500,000, with normal underwriting allowed above that level. The Bill also includes wider insurance reforms, including amendments to the Insurance Acts 1936 and 1964 to complete reforms to the Insurance Compensation Fund in line with EU requirements. The Bill will now move to Report and Final Stages in the Dáil in June before proceeding through the Seanad. The department also said it will work directly with industry on the transition from the voluntary code to the statutory framework.
Department of Finance (Ireland)2026-05-27
Ireland's Department of Finance moves statutory right to disregard cancer history for mortgage protection insurance through Committee Stage
Ireland’s Department of Finance reported that the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 has passed Committee Stage, advancing plans to require insurers to disregard certain cancer-related medical history when underwriting mortgage protection insurance. Agreed measures include a statutory right to disregard after five years’ remission, a higher mortgage protection threshold of EUR 650,000, and reforms to the Insurance Acts 1936 and 1964 to complete Insurance Compensation Fund changes in line with EU requirements.