Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 7 speaks to the part of section 16 that confers on the CER a power to appoint a petroleum safety officer to investigate petroleum incidents notified to it or safety or environmental concerns that have been reported to the CER by individuals on a confidential basis. While it would be a matter for the CER to decide whether or not such reports should be released, it would not be appropriate to give the Minister a role in what should be a matter for the independent safety regulator. Section 16 gives the CER the power to investigate what would include whistleblower reports. Providing that such confidential reports might be published would be likely to discourage confidential reporting or disclosure.

See this speech in context