Troy provides update on ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ legislation

• Remission period for cancer survivors seeking mortgage protection to be reduced to five years

• Threshold for mortgage protection insurance cover to be increased to €650,000

• Final proposals due before Cabinet in the coming weeks; Passage through the Oireachtas before the summer recess

Today, on Daffodil Day 2026, Minister of State and Longford Westmeath TD, Robert Troy, has announced that the final proposals underpinning the ‘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, 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; and

• 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 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.

Deputy Troy, who is Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions, and Insurance, said: “This is an important step forward in ensuring that our financial system works for everyone. It has been a priority of mine to ensure that we go far enough to support as many people as possible, and the reduction to five years from seven treatment free means that more cancer survivors will have the ability to buy their own homes.

“This bill was first introduced by my colleague Deputy Catherine Ardagh as a private members bill, and I sought to prioritise it as a government bill to ensure it would be enshrined into law as quickly as possible.

“The amendments I have secured and being announced today provide certainty for those who have gone through cancer diagnosis and treatment. This is legislation which has support across the house, and I look forward to its quick passage for the remaining stages.

“It is important to acknowledge the work of Deputy Ardagh, who has championed this for many years. It has been valuable to work with her, as well as the Irish Cancer Society and Insurance Ireland, in progressing this legislation and ensuring it is comprehensive for those who have survived cancer.”

Nikki Gallagher, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, stated: “Today’s announcement is a significant step forward to enacting ‘Right to be Forgotten after Cancer’ legislation. More and more people are now surviving cancer, so ensuring survivors can access financial products and services is crucial. Listening to the cancer community and working with affected cancer survivors, we launched the ‘Right to be Forgotten after Cancer’ campaign five years ago and we are now one step closer to legislation being enacted.

“We’d like to thank Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris, Minister of State, Robert Troy, Deputy Catherine Ardagh, who proposed this legislation, and all members of the Oireachtas who have supported the legislation on a cross-party basis. We look forward to this legislation being enacted as soon as possible so that cancer survivors can begin to feel the benefits of this landmark law change.”