Government to progress 'right to be forgotten' for cancer survivors
The plans will be brought forward by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and will see legislation proposed by Fianna Fáil's Catherine Ardagh progressed.
She introduced the proposals in February, arguing that those who have survived cancer ' deserve to be treated fairly when accessing financial products such as mortgages, health insurance, and travel insurance'.
Sources said on Monday evening that the Department of Finance has engaged extensively with stakeholders, including the Irish Cancer Society, Insurance Ireland, regulators, and international peers, in order to identify the most appropriate and effective means to progress this legislation.
This culminated in the recommendation to adopt and substantially amend the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025, introduced by Deputy Ardagh.
Minister Donohoe will recommend that the Bill should be progressed through the second stage of the legislative process.
Committee Stage amendments are also being prepared as the Department of Finance works in consultation with the Attorney General's Office to ensure the Bill is fully compliant with EU law and operationally viable.
The amendments will ensure that the Bill is focused on mortgage protection insurance, in line with EU best practice.
Elsewhere, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) will be able to sell off the assets of crime within two years rather than seven under plans to be brought to Cabinet by Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan.
Cabinet will hear that the confiscation of criminal proceeds is 'an essential means of combatting organised crime as it deprives criminals of illicit profits, preventing the further investment of criminal proceeds in either the legitimate economy or criminal enterprises'.
When a judicial determination is made that assets are the proceeds of crime, it will allow for the 'immediate and automatic appointment of a receiver' to ensure that the criminals cannot continue to benefit from those assets pending a final disposal order being made.
In the EU, estimated criminal revenues amount to almost €110 billion per year, which is equivalent to 1% of EU GDP.
In Ireland, the value of crime markets is calculated at €1.7 billion per annum.
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will bring a memo to crack down on overspending in the health service.
This will put requirements on the HSE Board and CEO regarding appropriate systems, procedures and practices to 'exercise the highest standards of prudent and effective financial and budgetary management'.
It will also require that proposals for corrective action be put in place where expenditure levels have been exceeded.
Arts Minister Patrick O'Donovan will provide an update on the National Broadband Plan and will tell Cabinet that it will be delivered 'ahead of time and within budget'.
He will also tell ministers that a Daniel O'Connell commemorative programme of events will take place, featuring a state-led commemoration in Derrynane House in Kerry, the gifting of a statue from Bank of Ireland, the creation of special stamps by An Post and commemorative coins from the Central Bank.
Environment Minister Darragh O'Brien will seek approval of the Air Pollution Act (Amendment) Bill 2025.
This will further support enforcement personnel to protect public health from the impacts of air pollution and to support continuous improvement in air quality.
Sources stated that it will not impact the current arrangements for householders and makes no changes to the existing rules relating to turf.
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