Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I refer to civil servants working in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners in Ennis, County Clare. There is significant speculation that there will be redeployment from the office which has been open for more than 20 years and was one of the first to be decentralised. The building is owned by the OPW. It would be a retrograde step if there was to be a diminution of services at the office in Ennis in which there are some fine civil servants working. They need and deserve clarity because it is not healthy that they are working in a vacuum.

Will the Leader allow for a debate on the proposed legislation dealing with whistleblowers, in respect of which the heads of a Bill have just been published? It is legislation that is badly needed. Had we had it sooner, some of our current problems might not be as severe because more people would have blown the whistle a long time ago, particularly in the financial services sector where there was such a serious lack of regulation. I commend the brave whistleblowers who put their necks on the line over the years with no protection from the law whatsoever. I sincerely hope this Bill ensures that when people put their hands up in future and call a spade a spade, they will have the protection of the State.