Brexit: Irish Legislation Adopted

On St Patrick's Day, the office of the Irish President announced that the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, had signed into law the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019.

Ireland has therefore enacted the legislation which the Irish Government believes is necessary to deal with Brexit.  While there are no doubt other measures which may well be adopted over time, Ireland believes that it is now Brexit-ready from a legislative perspective.  

The Act covers a variety of topics:

Part 1      Preliminary and General

Part 2      Arrangements in relation to Health Services

Part 3      Amendment of Industrial Development Acts 1986 to 2014

Part 4      Arrangements in relation to Electricity and Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases

Part 5      Amendment of Student Support Act 2011

Part 6      Taxation

Part 7      Financial Services: Settlement Finality

Part 8      Financial Services: Amendment of European Union (Insurance and Reinsurance) Regulations 2015 and European Union (Insurance Distribution) Regulation 2018

Part 9      Amendment of Harbours Act 1996

Part 10   Third Country Bus Services

Part 11   Amendment of Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005

Part 12   Amendment of Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) Act 1984

Part 13   Amendment of Extradition Act 1965

Part 14   Immigration

Part 15   Miscellaneous

Whether the Act will be triggered, and which provisions will be triggered, depends on events elsewhere (such as whether and when the UK leaves the EU) but, at least, for now, the legislation is in place and ready.