John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The other area about which I would like to ask is human resources and recruiting people. I will not go into it other than to say I remember the Minister, Deputy Howlin, saying in the Dáil debate - I am not touching on policy here - that the spirit of the legislation on whistleblowers should be adhered to in the context of what might be happening now, even though it might not be fully in place. I would like to believe one would be treated fairly, whether one is a whistleblower in the Garda Síochána, FÁS or in the Office of Public Works, having brought the issue to the attention of the particular Accounting Officer or Department. There is evidence to suggest that is not the case. If the Minister has said it and if it is a policy issue, FÁS, the OPW, the Department of Justice and Equality or otherwise should acknowledge it is the new situation. I would like to think those people would be protected under that particular comment or policy. Is there something Mr. Watt can do to restate that position, in particular in respect of some of the cases which are publicly known in order that people are protected?