Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Whistleblowers Act 1999 exists. There have been several difficulties in bringing forward an Act. In the meantime, the Government has implemented whistleblowers' protection provisions in a number of important areas covered by the Competition Act, the Company Law Enforcement Act and the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse legislation. Given the complexity in drafting a general whistleblowers Bill, the Government is identifying priority areas where whistleblowers need protection. A process of putting the protection into individual Acts is being followed, rather than trying to create a general one. There are great difficulties, not only in this country but elsewhere, in creating a general Bill. We will continue to put it into individual Acts.

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