Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have concerns about that being removed. It would lower the standards not to have that direct reporting to a Minister. If anything, it is a case of “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil”. I have concerns in that regard. I would be concerned that it will lower the standards. It also goes against Article 25.2 of the EU directive. I have concerns that standards will be lowered if the option of reporting to a Minister is removed.

I have question for Mr. Farrelly. I have met with a number of whistleblowers in recent years. Many of them have told me about the huge toll the process has taken on their mental health. Some people felt – and you do not have to meet with a whistleblower to hear this – that their lives destroyed and that their careers were ruined. It is difficult to watch people who sought to act in the public interest suffering such personal hardship. We often hear about the importance of mental health, but what we need to see now are the necessary resources being put in place in that regard. Could Mr. Farrelly describe the psychological damage that he has seen people who have made protected disclosures endure? Access to free and independent psychological services, especially for those lower down the income ladder, could help ameliorate that damage. How could that be dealt with? I feel strongly that psychological services should be free for people who are doing something so good for the public interest.