Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

As the Deputy knows, the hardest thing to do is to change ingrained attitudes. He is aware that I have more than a passing interest in the issue of whistleblowing, having had to traipse to the High Court and the Supreme Court to protect the rights of individuals to give information to Members of the House on allegations of wrongdoing. I know how stressful this can be. At one stage I was on the hazard for €500,000 in legal fees. Thankfully, I was indemnified by my party, although I do not know how it could have afforded to pay. I am in a privileged position in this House but no ordinary citizen should ever be in that position. We will advance legislative provision as quickly as I can, although there will be resistance from some areas. I produced whistle-blowing legislation, as did the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, in opposition. We want joined up, comprehensive legislation that goes into areas that are all-encompassing. We will have a robust model. We have examined carefully the New Zealand model, the United Kingdom model and the South African model, which I believe was the progenitor of all of them from 2000, and the Dáil will have an opportunity to add its views on having that in the first half of this year.

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