RegBrief (September – October 2016)

The Government has published its Autumn 2026 Legislation Programme, identifying 32 bills for priority publication and 32 bills for priority drafting. This article explores a selection of measures likely to be of interest to businesses, spanning digital economy, strategic infrastructure, litigation reform, financial regulation, competition law, corporate structures, employment, pensions, and healthcare sectors.

Ireland's Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has unveiled a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy 2030, establishing a framework of 29 measures across three strategic pillars to protect the nation's critical infrastructure and citizens from evolving cyber threats.

The European Commission has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of EU public procurement law through a single, directly applicable Regulation that would replace existing Directives. This fundamental reform introduces mandatory quality-weighted award criteria, liberalised negotiation procedures, and entirely new frameworks for security considerations and European preference in public contracting.

The Procurement Act 2023, which came into force to update and streamline public procurement processes, sets out clear rules on when contracts must follow their full scope.

The EU continues its ambitious reform agenda for life sciences regulation, with landmark agreements on pharmaceutical legislation and biotech innovation frameworks. Ireland's Council Presidency is set to drive progress on critical medicines legislation and medical device reforms, while new investment initiatives aim to mobilize billions into Europe's biotech sector.

The European Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism has launched a public consultation on draft regulatory technical standards that will establish harmonised requirements for group-wide AML/CFT frameworks across EU entities and their third-country operations.

The European Union's evolving regulatory landscape for artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and health data is creating new compliance challenges and opportunities for life sciences organizations. From the AI Act's refinements to the delayed NIS2 Directive transposition in Ireland, stakeholders must navigate multiple intersecting frameworks while preparing for the European Health Data Space Regulation's implementation.

The Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Act 2021 (the "Act") has been signed into law by the President and is expected to be commenced shortly.

On 1 October 2026, AMLA finalised three sets of regulatory technical standards (RTS) defining key measures companies and professionals must apply to reduce money laundering and terrorist financing risks.

The Irish Cabinet has approved a comprehensive legislative programme featuring 64 priority bills spanning artificial intelligence regulation, cybersecurity, tourism, and civil reform. This breakdown examines how these proposed laws will impact various industries and sectors across the economy.