Cancer survivors and campaigners are calling on the Government to ensure the 'right to be forgotten' is enshrined at five years in forthcoming legislation.
The Irish Cancer Society has welcomed the five-year term set out in the Central Bank Amendment Bill stating that "financial discrimination of cancer survivors must end".
The charity is urging Government to ensure the five-year term is not changed as the Bill passes through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The planned legislation seeks to prohibit financial service providers from discriminating against cancer survivors when they try to access insurance products, such as mortgage protection.
A Voluntary Code of Practice that has been in operation in the insurance sector since 2023 requires insurers to disregard a cancer diagnosis seven years after treatment and five years if the applicant was a minor when the treatment ended.
Watch: Cancer survivors, campaigners in call over 'right to be forgotten'
The Code of Practice covers mortgage protection insurance up to €500,000. Eight insurers have signed up for it.
A spokesperson for Insurance Ireland told RTÉ News its members are "proud to have delivered this voluntary code in advance of legislation, ensuring tangible benefits for cancer survivors".
An independent review by Forvis Mazars of the implementation of the Voluntary Code covering the first year of its implementation indicated that it is working.
"We look forward to working constructively with Government to craft this legislation over the coming months to ensure it creates a fair and consistent framework across the market," the Insurance Ireland spokesperson added.
Cancer Patients Europe Vice-Chair Jacqueline Daly believes the code of practice should not become legislation, adding that Ireland must follow European counterparts who follow a five-year term.
"We want the same [legislation] as they have in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal".
"We should not be penalized for having fought so well to get out the other side of cancer. It must be fair for everybody," she added.
Personal loan to purchase a home
Jacqueline and her husband Michael Daly, who co-founded the East Galway and Midlands Cancer Support Centre, have both recovered from cancer.
They took out a personal loan from the Credit Union to purchase a family home as they knew they would not qualify for a mortgage.
They told RTÉ News that it was "pointless [looking for a mortgage] because we both had a cancer diagnosis".
"We wanted a secure place to bring up our son and that was our predicament. A personal loan was our only option to secure a home," Ms Daly said.
Mr Daly said that it was a difficult time that still hurts when he thinks about it.
"Fortunately, we were able to get the personal loan from the Credit Union who were brilliant.
"It still stings. Why were we singled out? It's unnecessary."
He said had the option existed to obtain a mortgage after five years of being cancer free that it "would remove an awful lot of stress".
Planned legislation carries penalties
The Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2025 passed the Second Stage in the Dáil last July.
The Bill states if a financial provider is convicted of discriminating against a person on health grounds that they may be liable to a fine up to €30,000 or/and up to five years in prison.
In the case of a summary conviction, it is proposed they would be liable to a fine up to €3,000 or/and up of one year in prison.
'Important legislation is effective'
President of the Irish Society of Medical Oncology Dr Michael McCarthy has welcomed the Government's movement on the issue.
He added, however, that the planned legislation must be "effective in achieving its goals".
The consultant oncologist said that his "own preference would be to support a five-year term rather than a seven-year term".
Dr McCarthy said where there are specific situations or types of cancer involved that clinicians would be very happy to address those on a case-by-case basis.
He said the issue of the right to be forgotten is going to be increasingly important as cancer treatments improve and more people survive the illness.
ICS Director of Advocacy and Communications Steve Dempsey echoed Dr McCarthy's sentiments on the effectiveness and enforcement of the legislation.
Mr Dempsey said the Bill must apply to a range of financial products, allow for the non-disclosure of historical cancer diagnosis as well as including a review mechanism.
He has called for a Reference Grid outlining shorter timeframes under five years for specified cancer types.
'Amendments at Committee Stage'
A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said: "The Government is firmly committed to delivering this important piece of legislation, which is a key commitment in the Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future.
"It is intended to bring forward a number of amendments at Committee Stage following detailed consideration by Department of Finance officials, engagement with the Attorney General's office and key stakeholders, and the approval of Government."
The 'right to be forgotten' legislation, introduced by Fianna Fáil Deputy Catherine Ardagh, was brought to Cabinet last July.
The Government has said the Bill must align with EU regulatory frameworks to ensure there are no unintended impacts on insurance risk classification and the ECB's monetary financing rules.
