Mark Lawler, Associate Director of Postgraduate Studies, Chair in Translational Cancer Genomics, and Professor of Digital Health at Queen’s University Belfast, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“One of the proudest days in my professional career as the Insurance (Disregard of Certain Medical History and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 completed Report and Final Stages in Dáil Éireann yesterday.
We now have landmark legislation that will ensure cancer survivors who have completed treatment and are 5 years or more post remission period will no longer be financially discriminated against when applying for mortgage protection insurance.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride over the last 5 years as we’ve painstakenly collected the evidence and presented it at international conferences and events and in the corridors of power, in Leinster House, in Stormont (more of that anon) and in the European Parliament.
And thankfully the politicians have listened and I would like to especially single out Catherine Ardagh TD and Robert Troy who have championed our cause in Dail Eireann. Also the Irish Cancer Society Steve Dempsey Emma H. who ran with this when I first highlighted this discrimination and have led the campaign that has brought us to this brilliant conclusion. And in particular the leadership of Françoise Meunier who has led this initiative across Europe.
By placing this statutory Right to Disregard a previous cancer diagnosis into law, the State is recognising that a cancer diagnosis should not become a lifelong financial challenge.
Finally thanks to the hundreds of people who supported us on the journey – you know who you are and we invite you to join us in a collective pride in achieving something truly transformative for cancer survivors – I still can’t quite believe it!
But we won’t rest on our laurels – next stop Northern Ireland, as a first step in ensuring that the cancer survivors in the 4 nations of the UK can have the same legal reassurance that they will not be financially discriminated against because of a previous cancer diagnosis. Rust never sleeps!”
Other articles featuring Mark Lawler on OncoDaily.