Official meaning for flashing amber filter light

a flashing yellow filter left or right is a flashing amber light. Why do you think the rules for filter lights would be different to what is in the act?

What you have quoted is the official meaning. It is a Statutory Instrument notice and it makes up part of the legal statute. Flashing amber arrow means you can proceed if the way is clear but must yield to pedestrians at the crossing. It does not convey right of way at a junction so you should treat it like a yield sign if there are no pedestrians present also.

I have only ever seen flashing amber arrows on left turns in Ireland, I have yet to see one for a right-hand turn but it could just be the roads I drive regularly.

I always thought that a flashing yellow was to be treated as a yield sign, and a flashing red, was to be treated as a stop sign.

Yes, my understanding is that even if the amber filter light was green a car has to cross over the cycle lane to take the left turn. Before entering a lane you have to give way to traffic(in this case bikes) already in the lane.

The filter light is just a reminder but I think many will be confused by it.

You might lose your license. The cyclist might lose their life.

With 98% of drivers breaking urban speed limits, and the majority of drivers using their phones at the wheel, how exactly did you work out that drivers are more likely to obey traffic laws?

Can you specify where the junctions or sections of road are, that you believe the cyclists to be overtaking on the left at?

It sounds like you might confused by the rules of the road, so people here would be happy to help you understand them better.

Considering, S.I. No. 332/2012 (below)

https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2012/si/332/made/en/print

From the point of view of a driver moving slowly and signaling to turn left, and a cyclist going straight, what is the difference between the two situations below that means a flashing amber over a solid green is selected?

DCC are correct, you are misinterpreting the regulations and are missing one important cavaet from S10 (5)(b)(i) of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 as amended, it is limited in scope by S8.

The 2012 amendment does indeed add in a general stipulation as you suggest that a cyclist must not overtake on the left a vehicle which is indicating to turn left, but it's a very general provisio which for example does not deal with situations where there lanes or junctions, such situations are covered elsewhere.

There are specific provisions (S8 (2), (3) and (8) for example) dealing with lanes and junctions which requires the driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle to yield right of way to the cyclist on their left, the general 2012 amendments to S10 do not trump the specific requirements of S8, a specific yield provisio over rides a general do not overtake provisio.

I always look out for cyclists on my left, but I'm consistently amazed by how many put their lives in the hands of a motorist, who yes, should know better, but may still turn left anyway.

Anyway, I think the main contention (from many cyclists that I've seen) is that the flashing amber is new, and as such people don't understand it's meaning wrt. cycle lane, since in most implementations, it's used to signal right of way for traffic coming from your right, or pedestrians crossing, rather than a cyclist in your left mirror, as below.