Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State's statement on this issue, especially the last two sentences. one of which reads: "I have made [it] clear that no action should be taken that would impinge on his rights in accordance with [the] protected disclosure legislation". He has also said he will act. We will hold him to that commitment in the event that there is further penalisation of the whistleblower in this instance because the person concerned is not the only one who has faced disciplinary procedures or suffered at the hands of officers who seem to be of the same view as a former Garda Commissioner that whistleblowers are disgraceful. That attitude which is held by some within the Defence Forces will have to change, but such a culture has not been changed fully. The Minister of State is right in saying the environment in the Defence Forces is robust and challenging, but that does not excuse the bullying, victimisation or targeting of whistleblowers who have made claims to the benefit of everyone within the Defence Forces. I hope we will not be back here again if the Minister of State takes the required action, if action is needed.

See this speech in context