About this database

The Irish Statute Book database comprises the Acts of the Oireachtas, Statutory Instruments and Legislation Directory (Chronological Tables) of the Statutes for the period 1922-2005.

The source material for this database is the bound volumes of the Acts of the Oireachtas and Statutory Instruments 1922 - 2005 as published by The Stationery Office.

Acts of the Oireachtas

The sole and exclusive power of making laws for the State is vested in the Oireachtas (Parliament) subject to the obligations of European Union Membership as provided in the Constitution of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of the President and two Houses, Dáil Eireann (House of Representatives) and Seanad Eireann (Senate).

All primary legislation i.e. Acts of the Oireachtas start life as Bills which are proposals for legislation: those applicable to the general body of citizens are called Public Bills and those promoted by local authorities and private bodies or individuals for their own purposes are called Private Bills. Private Bills are very rare and are dealt with under separate procedures.

Bills can be introduced in either the Dáil or Seanad and there are five stages in considering a Bill. The second and third stages are considered the most important as they offer the fullest opportunities to Members to discuss and amend the contents of the Bill.

Once a Bill has been passed by both Houses, the Taoiseach presents a vellum copy of the Bill, prepared in the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas to the President for signature and promulgation as a law. The signed text is then enrolled for record in the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court.

(The above text is printed courtesy of the Houses of the Oireachtas)

Statutory Instruments

Secondary legislation, in the form of Statutory Instruments, is governed by the Statutory Instruments Act 1947. There are five main types of statutory instrument orders, regulations, rules, bye-laws and schemes. Secondary legislation was issued in the form of Statutory Rules and Orders between 1922 and 1947.

Statutory Instruments have a wide variety of functions. They are not enacted by the Oireachtas but allow persons or bodies to whom legislative power has been delegated by statute to legislate in relation to detailed day-to-day matters arising from the operation of the relevant primary legislation. Statutory instruments are used, for example, to implement European Council Directives, designate the days on which particular District Courts sit and delegate the powers of Ministers.

Specified Government Ministers and other agencies and bodies are authorised to make Statutory Instruments and several hundred instruments are made annually

Legislation Directory (Chronological Tables)

The Legislation Directory 1922-2005 indicates how the following are affected by Acts of the Oireachtas enacted, Saorstát Éireann Statutes or Statutory Instruments:

The Legislation Directory also lists:

The Acts of the Oireachtas are included in the English language on the Irish Statute Book database. However, constitutional amendments and Acts which were passed in Irish or in both official languages are included in both Irish and English.

The official version of the Acts of the Oireachtas and Statutory Instruments remains the printed version published by the Stationery Office.

Please note that it is not possible for the Office of the Attorney General to supply individuals with legislation in any format.