15th July 2026
All stages in the Oireachtas on Disregards Legislation now complete. Bill goes to the President for signing.
The Dáil this evening approved the Seanad amendments to the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, completing the Bill’s passage through the Oireachtas. It now goes to the President for signature.
“This is a remarkable and moving moment for the men who were unjustly convicted under Ireland’s cruel anti-gay laws. They, and their families, can finally see the injustice done to them by the State being addressed, and the burden of criminality lifted for expressing their love and affection for another man”, said Brian Sheehan of the LGBT Restorative Justice Campaign.
“This is also a landmark and historic moment for human rights and LGBTQ+ equality in Ireland. Decades of campaigning have led to this point where redress is now possible for those men persecuted under the anti-gay laws. Following decriminalisation in 1993 and the State apology in 2018, this legislation will finally remove the stain of these unjust convictions from the records of those affected”, said Kieran Rose from the Campaign.
“The LGBT Restorative Justice Campaign will support the implementation of the Disregards Scheme, including outreach to those who emigrated because of persecution under these laws. Many are now later in life, and we hope trauma-informed support will help them access the redress they deserve”, said Karl Hayden from the Campaign
“We will continue to work on outstanding issues to ensure that the Disregard Scheme will be sufficiently robust and flexible so that everyone unjustly convicted can obtain meaningful redress”, added Hayden.
The LGBT Restorative Justice Campaign thanked the many organisations and individuals, especially LGBT+ organisations, who have supported the campaign over the past decade and who will play an important role in promoting the Disregards Scheme.
The Campaign also thanked members of the Oireachtas for their cross-party support, particularly Ged Nash TD, who introduced the first redress Bill in 2018, and Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, who brought forward a Disregards Bill, supported by opposition Parties, earlier this year. The Campaign also acknowledged Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan TD and his officials for steering the legislation through the Oireachtas and creating a pathway for those wronged by the State to have those injustices formally recognised and addressed.
ENDS
Editors Notes:
More information on the LGBT+ Restorative Justice Campaign and the journey to achieving Disregard legislation is available at www.lgbtdisregard.ie
LGBT Disregard 