Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes suggested the Government should support whistleblowers. As he said, the Whistleblowers Protection Bill 1999 was a Private Members' Bill which was accepted by the Government at the time. After the last election it was retained on the Government's legislative programme. Some drafting work has been done with a view to progressing the legislation, but it is not currently on a priority list. The purpose of the Bill is to provide protection from civil liability for employees who report certain people in their company. It would be a good idea for the Seanad to ask the Government today to progress that legislation. As Senator Brian Hayes said, AIB should now donate from the extra funds it has received a specified sum of money to the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board. While Senator Hayes and Senator Norris were talking, it struck me that a Private Members' Bill introduced in the Seanad would be very effective. It could be brief and might well win all-party approval. We should consider that move.

Senator Norris raised an issue of great importance. If one contacts a bank about minor transactions, are all conversations with one's local friendly bank official taped? This matter did not appear to surprise anyone else but me. If such conversations are taped, that is an invasion of privacy.