IRELAND

On the 25th of October 2023 the ‘model bill’ ; Employment Equality (Amendment) Bill 2021 successfully completed its final stage in the Seanad with government and total cross party support. This Bill will be the first time a country fully legislates to outlaw NDAs that attempt to hide abuse. The Bill heads to the Dáil where it will be become legislation. Hopefully this will be done in the next 18 months.

This Bill started in 2021 with Can’t Buy My Silence collaborating on drafting a “model bill”, which was introduced in Ireland by Senator Lynn Ruane.

This bill prohibits the use of NDAs in instances of abuse and harassment in the workplace and puts the power into the hands of the victims who now will have the choice about how and where confidentiality is used but it draws the line under confidentiality around harmful behaviour.