Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 75:

In page 87, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following:

"(7) The Commission must provide for anonymity and confidentiality of a complainant who reports a breach of the Regulations, and a complainant who waives anonymity must be protected from discrimination, disadvantage or unfair treatment as a result of the complaint subject to natural justice being afforded to the accused.".

There were much debate in this Chamber previously when Deputies from all sides indicated that if suppliers engage in a process whereby they identify problems and lift their heads above the parapet, they get punished and discriminated against. When Deputy Creed was on the Opposition benches and spokesperson for agriculture, he made similar points to myself. I think Ms Mary Coughlan was Minister for Agriculture at the time. This amendment is to gives anonymity and confidentiality to the complainant. Where that is waived, there must be confidence that there will not be discrimination, disadvantage or unfair treatment. If that anonymity or confidentiality is not there, or if an individual does not have confidence that he or she will not be discriminated against, the Minister can be sure that a functioning business will not lift its head above the parapet and the injustice will continue.

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