Dáil debates

Wednesday, 10 November 2010

Reform of Structures of Government: Motion (Resumed)

 

7:00 pm

Photo of Margaret ConlonMargaret Conlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. While I would not agree with everything Deputy Seán Power said, I do agree with his comments on the broad nature of the motion and the difficulties relating to dealing with it in detail in the amount of time available.

There are aspects of the motion on which I wish to focus. The first of these relates to the rules and standards which apply to those who hold public office. While people have definite ideas and proposals with regard to change, which is healthy and must be welcomed, we must be careful that we do not try to reinvent the wheel. Let us consider what is already in place and see how we can improve upon it.

One of the other matters to which I wish to refer relates to the call for legislation relating to whistleblowing. I stand to be corrected but my research indicates that much of the legislation that has been enacted in recent years has included whistleblowing provisions. It is right and proper that a person who is employed in whatever sector, who suspects that an offence which is covered by the prevention of corruption legislation has been committed and who reports his or her suspicions, should receive protection. People should not be penalised by their employers as a result of what they have done. People have a duty and a responsibility to report suspicious actions and they deserve to be protected as a result.

The motion refers to the spending limits relating to elections. This is a matter with which I do not have any difficulty. On foot of the comments made by the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, I understand that these matters are under consideration at present. That is a welcome development.

Cabinet confidentiality is another matter to which the motion refers. It is extremely important that Ministers should be in a position to engage in full and frank discussions when in attendance at Cabinet, without fear of the details of such discussions being leaked or reported in the media. Members are aware of what happens at parliamentary party meetings and one can rest assured that one will read about some matter that was discussed at such meetings in the print media. It is important that Cabinet confidentiality should be protected. If, however, the High Court were to make ruling that, in the interests, for example, of the administration of justice by a court or in light of an overriding public interest, it should be lifted-----

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.