Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in this important debate on the Whistleblowers Protection Bill and the need for comprehensive statutory protection for employees and others who blow the whistle on significant, illegal and unacceptable practices. Before I go into the details of the legislation, I will say that perhaps we should have a debate on the brass neck Bill for all the politicians in this House and elsewhere. Some of them have forgotten they received €3,000 from big developers. Others received a visit from a lobbyist in the middle of the night with €2,000 or €3,000 in a bundle of cash notes. They did not even check it but held on to it for three weeks and then sent some, or all, of it — I do not know for sure — back to the developer. People like Deputy Ned O'Keeffe must wonder what is going on in this House.

We have other problems here like those who do not even turn up for the Dáil. They drop in a couple of times per year to collect their cheques. Do these people think the people are fools? Are they all suffering from selective amnesia disorder? I am blowing the whistle on these people who are damaging politics. They insult the intelligence of the people and damage the reputation of all politicians. It is a disgrace and a scandal and, as far as I am concerned, such people should not be involved in politics.

Most people can remember their confirmation money yet two senior politicians have either forgotten or decided not to tell the gardaí about certain moneys received. That is unacceptable. I am also concerned about the deafening silence around here in recent days from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Labour Party and the Progressive Democrats in respect of these revelations. The silence from the large parties is deafening. They have a brass neck to talk about whistleblowers in this debate.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, should have been drummed out of politics for his disgraceful behaviour in the Frank Connolly and the Centre for Public Inquiry affair. The legal eagles of this State have let the people down by not defending the right to justice and to a fair trial. I even witnessed this in my area when I blew the whistle on the 240 damaged homes around the Dublin Port tunnel, the leaking and cracked walls, the flooding and the pollution issues. As soon as I highlighted these issues, I was attacked by the city manager, Ministers and other politicians. I was only protecting the interests of the local residents and the safety of the staff in the tunnel. I welcome the opportunity to speak out on sleaze and whistleblowing. I commend the staff of the Standards in Public Office Commission for their excellent work.

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