John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I respect the Minister of State's intervention; however, it is clear from the response that neither she, CIT nor the Higher Education Authority, HEA, is dealing with the reasons the whistleblower made the protected disclosure in the first place. It is because she was treated badly having made the disclosure. The whistleblower needs to be put back in employment and there must be recognition of what was done in the context of the information she gave to Mr. Paul Gallagher. Bearing in mind how the legislation is meant to protect whistleblowers, like the draft policy of the college in 2012, they should, in conscience, pay the whistleblower from 2014 onwards. That is what is stated in the legislation. Will the Minister of State ensure the HEA which, incidentally, takes its time in responding to Deputies will make sure she is put back on salary and compensated, dating back to 2014?

For the record, I gave the protected disclosure directly to the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton. I passed it to him, but nothing really constructive has happened since.

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