Mr. Séamus Dooley:

It is not a question of whether we should give journalists special protections. Journalists have certain protections under existing European law. We are saying that the scheme before the committee this morning is not in compliance with that law. We are not talking about protection in the future. Journalists already have protection. If I understand the Deputy's question correctly, he is concerned about how other people can be protected. I think robust whistleblower legislation is the appropriate way to extend the protection the Deputy is talking about. I am not sure I fully understand the Deputy's point. The best way to protect sources is to introduce whistleblower legislation that is stronger than the legislation we have at present. Like the issue of data protection, this is an international issue. National legislation alone does not protect sources in the global environment in which information is currently exchanged.