Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Considerable drafting work has been done with a view to progressing the legislation. It is now considered that the provision of statutory protection for whistleblowers on a sectoral basis might provide a better and more focused approach to dealing with this issue, as in section 4 of the Act relating to protections for persons reporting child abuse and section 50 of the Competition Act. That is the Government position as things stand.

Regarding the second matter, the Government Chief Whip has brought forward proposals in good faith. Obviously he would like to deal with them on an all-party basis but if the Labour Party is not interested in discussing them, that is its view.

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