Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)

Last week, Independent Ireland tabled a Private Members' motion relating to the protection of whistleblowers. Part of our motion was to remove the protection for civil servants who are knowingly acting outside of their remit whereby they would not get protected by the State if they are knowingly acting outside the remit of their work. I asked at the time for an open vote from Government on the motion and it did not allow it. Why are we protecting people who are knowingly breaking the law within the Civil Service? This motion would have actually enacted that and protected people who are doing right, and people who are doing wrong within the service would be held personally accountable. I asked for an open vote and the Government did not allow it. Can the Taoiseach please tell me why?

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