Louth Senator welcomes new 'right to be forgotten' for cancer survivors applying for mortgage protection 

Fianna Fáil Senator in Louth and Seanad Spokesperson on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Erin McGreehan, has welcomed the implementation of a new code of practice that will introduce the  “right to be forgotten” for cancer survivors when applying for mortgage protection insurance.

The Code entered into force from 6 December 2023. It provides that insurers will disregard a disclosed cancer diagnosis where treatment ended more than seven years prior to application, or more than 5 years if the applicant was under 18 at time of diagnosis.

Senator McGreehan said: “Thankfully, more people who get cancer in Ireland now have far better outcomes and this improvement will continue with extra resources and new innovative treatments.

"According to the Irish Cancer Society, there were 207,000 cancer patients or former cancer patients alive in Ireland at the end of 2020.

"This is wonderful news, but so many were being penalised and unable to get insurance cover and draw a mortgage and own a home. 

"I want to acknowledge the efforts of so many people involved in getting the new code of practice implemented.

"The Irish Cancer Society, Insurance Ireland and its members as well as Tom Grant, Managing Director of OneLife Insure here in Louth, who was one of the first in the market to apply the right to be forgotten rule last month, all played such an important role in implementing the code. 

"The code of practice, which my party colleague, Minister Michael McGrath, worked extremely hard on with the insurance industry, is the very welcome first step in achieving equity and fairness for so many."