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

I am obliged to conclude the meeting due to the Covid-19 regulations. I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee. I sincerely thank Transparency International Ireland for the work it does. I particularly thank Mr. Clifford, who has led the way in regard to exposing quite a lot of the issues relative to the current legislation and how whistleblowers are treated. It is appropriate to caution the State that where a Department or agency is currently dealing with a case, it should deal with it in the context of the improvements that are being made to the legislation and of ensuring that the rights of the individual are not trampled upon and that they are dealt with fairly. The experience I have had to date leads me to believe the whistleblower becomes the target after the protected disclosure is made. They end up losing their jobs, they end up in poor health and they end up maybe not being able to be employed in the sector in respect of which they are qualified. That is not good enough. The State should lead by example and should not in any way undermine the rights or the dignity of an individual who is putting forward a protected disclosure and is a loyal employee of the agency or Department. It is frightening what is happening in Ireland relative to whistleblowers. I hope this discussion we have had as part of our pre-legislative scrutiny will help to bring forward a better piece of legislation and go beyond the European directive, as some of the witnesses have suggested. I again thank the witnesses. I am sure we will meet again in the course of the pre-legislative scrutiny.