Derek McDowell (Labour)

There is a more serious matter to which I wish to refer. Is the Government still committed to introducing the whistleblowers Bill? The Leader will recall that some three years ago the Taoiseach, in the Lower House, committed the Government – I assume his commitment follows through to this Administration – to supporting a Private Member's Bill in the name of my current party leader which would, among other things, give protection to civil servants who blow the whistle on wrongdoing in Government. If, as I assume is the case, the Government is still committed to that Bill, does the Leader agree that it is somewhat hypocritical for the Government to shut off one of the mechanisms by which such information comes to public notice, while claiming that it is still committed to introducing a Bill of that kind?