Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

The Minister will be aware that several years ago Deputy Rabbitte introduced a general whistleblowers Bill. The Government opposed it on the basis that it had plans to introduce whistleblowers legislation on a Department by Department or sector by sector basis. In all the years since then little or no progress has been made in introducing whistlebowers legislation or protection for people working in the transport sector.

I have received representations in recent months from three employees in the aviation sector. One of them works in airport security, another is an aviation engineer who has concerns about safety and the third is a pilot who also has concerns about safety. None of those three people who contracted me felt they were in a position to report their concerns to the authorities. They all feared for their jobs if they did so. That cannot be good practice in a sector that is as security and safety sensitive as aviation. These are just three examples that have come to my attention in recent months.

If the Minister was serious about safety and security in the transport sector, he would have taken action by now to provide a framework for people in that kind of situation to report on their concerns. There should be a reporting system in place which would protect their jobs from implications that might come from their employers. Does the Minister have any plans at all to introduce legislation at this late stage? What kind of support can he offer those who are in the front line of aviation and have serious concerns about safety and security? They feel helpless when trying to take action on those concerns.

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