Mr. Ronan Kennedy:

I thank the Deputy for that. Our submission comes from the stepped support perspective whereby internal channels should be the first port of call. When these are exhausted or seem to be ineffective, the matter should then be escalated to external channels or to the general public. I agree that in the context of the reporting mechanisms, the bar is potentially set too high to be able to move to an external reporting channel. The new proposed protected disclosure office could have a role to play in that regard. Some of my colleagues made submissions and raised the possibility that protected disclosures could be made directly to that office and not, for example, directly to a line Minister. The bar is potentially set a bit too high in that regard in the draft Bill, as it stands.