Michael McHale , 2025-07-08 13:03:00
Cabinet agrees to progress Bill before summer recess after report found that voluntary code led to more cancer survivors accessing mortgage protection
Campaigners have welcomed a decision by Cabinet to soon bring forward legislation to improve access to insurance for cancer survivors.
The Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 will ensure that a cancer diagnosis is disregarded once seven years have passed since an applicant completed treatment for certain insurance products, including mortgage protection.
Today the Government agreed to bring forward the so-called ‘Right to be Forgotten’ legislation before the summer recess.
The move follows the recent publication of an independent report on a Voluntary Code of Practice, which was signed up to by eight insurers in 2023.
It found that found that more cancer survivors have access to mortgage protection without increased cost than prior to the introduction of the code.
“What the Voluntary Code of Practice and subsequent review shows is that insurance companies are capable of acting with fairness and transparency, and this Bill will mandate them to do so going forward,” said Robert Troy, who is Minister of State with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions, and Insurance.
“There is work to do to develop the Bill further, and I look forward to that process over the coming months but for now, it is important to underline that comfort and security will be available for cancer survivors seeking mortgage protection insurance, where it once wasn’t.”
The Irish Cancer Society released research in 2022 outlining how difficult it was for cancer survivors to access insurance and other financial products in Ireland. Only one in four of those surveyed felt they were treated fairly when applying for such products.
“Ever since we first raised the issue, we’ve been campaigning for a change to the law,” said the charity’s CEO Averil Power.
“Progress was made when Insurance Ireland introduced a voluntary code to improve access to mortgage protection insurance for cancer survivors. However, we have consistently argued that legal protection was needed and that other insurance products should also be covered.
She added: “Despite enduring a gruelling cancer diagnosis and recovery, we were hearing from survivors who felt they were being inadvertently penalised. This was adding huge anxiety and stress to them at a time when they should be supported to live well.”
“We will now shift our focus to working with Government – and Insurance Ireland – to make the legislation as strong as possible as it moves through the Oireachtas.
“In particular we want financial service providers to disregard a cancer diagnosis five years – not seven – after an applicant has completed their active treatment. “
