Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have one final question on the protected disclosures legislation mentioned by Mr. Deering, which is something that we have been dealing with in this committee and that I am particularly interested in. I have heard concerns from whistleblowers and academics and from transparency campaigning organisations that certain provisions in the Bill on public service disclosures could lower existing standards and that by introducing that stepped procedure for disclosure and restrictive conditionality for allowing a worker to make a disclosure to the Minister is regressive. As the Ombudsman will be aware, protected disclosures cases can take years and take a real toll on people. Going to the Minister was one way that could add pressure, raise awareness and speed up the process. That will now be much more difficult. Does the Ombudsman agree that that is a retrograde step and if he does not agree, can he outline why he thinks it is not a retrograde step? I thank Mr. Deering.