Government Chief Whip Mary Butler Publishes Ambitious Autumn 2025 Legislation Programme

Government Chief Whip Mary Butler Publishes Ambitious Autumn 2025 Legislation Programme

• From: Department of the Taoiseach

• Published on: 17 September 2025
• Last updated on: 17 September 2025

Government Chief Whip Mary Butler TD today published the Government's Legislation Programme for Autumn 2025, following its approval by Cabinet. The Programme outlines the Government's legislative priorities for the 13-week parliamentary session ahead and reflects a strong commitment to delivering on a number of policy objectives across all sectors.

This Autumn's Programme is ambitious, with:

• 34 Bills prioritised for publication, including the annual Finance and Social Welfare Bills;
• 33 Bills prioritised for drafting;
• 74 additional Bills listed under "All Other Legislation".

A further 16 Bills are currently before the Dáil and Seanad, 13 Bills have been published since the Government took office at the end of January 2025, and 10 Bills have been enacted in the same period.

Speaking today following approval of the proposals at Cabinet, Minister Butler said:

"This Programme reflects the Government's determination to deliver meaningful legislative reform across a wide range of areas - from housing and health to climate action, justice, and digital innovation. The scale and breadth of the Programme demonstrates our commitment to progressing a range of priorities and responding to the evolving needs of our society."

Among the legislation scheduled for publication this session are:

• Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill - to prohibit the sale of single-use vapes;
• Media Regulation Bill - to implement the European Media Freedom Act;
• Defence (Amendment) Bill - to reform the 'Triple Lock' and enhance Defence Forces governance;
• Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill - to deliver on a programme for government commitment to prohibit the importation of goods from the Occupied Palestinian Territory;
• National Cyber Security Bill - to strengthen Ireland's cyber resilience;
• Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill - to enhance rent regulation and tenancy protections

Minister Butler continued:

"This Programme reflects a whole-of-Government effort. From housing and education to justice and disability, Ministers are stepping up to deliver legislation that will make a real difference in people's lives.

I welcome the commitment of my colleague, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O'Callaghan to bring forward so many important Bills this session. These include the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill, which will regulate the use of facial recognition technology in serious criminal investigations, and the National Cyber Security Bill, which will establish the National Cyber Security Centre on a statutory footing."

"The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, working with Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton, has committed to publishing the Disability Act Amendment Bill, which will improve the framework for Assessments of Need, and the Child Care (Amendment) Bill, which will modernise child welfare legislation in line with constitutional protections for children.

"I am also particularly encouraged by the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill's plans to publish the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill, which will prohibit the sale of disposable vapes, and the Health (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill, which will ensure high standards of care for those receiving home support services."

The Programme was developed following extensive consultation with all Government Departments and was finalised by the Government Legislation Committee on 10 September 2025.

Minister Butler concluded:

"The publication of this Programme is important in ensuring we legislate to provide better services for everyone. I look forward to working with my colleagues across Government and the Oireachtas to advance this important work. I would also like to thank officials in my office, all Government Ministers and their officials, the Attorney General and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for their assistance in preparing the programme."

The Autumn 2025 Legislation Programme is available on gov.ie and will be monitored throughout the session by the Government Chief Whip in her role as Chair of the Government Legislation Committee.

A link to the programme can be found here