Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I am glad we agree the penalties should be increased when the Bill is passed and that the penalties for those who break the law are much tougher. Imprisonment of a person for ten years is very serious. The legislation allows for the doubling of the penalty from five to ten years. That must be paramount in the mind of anyone considering breaking the law.

I worked with a whistleblower, Eugene McErlean, who did a tremendous service by revealing overcharging by the banks. The protection of whistleblowers, particularly on where they work and the fact they might be fired if they speak out, is paramount and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is working on whistleblower legislation.

There are arguments both for and against financial benefits for whistleblowing. An argument that could be used is that in a significant case where a person being charged could face up to ten years in jail, if the evidence was being given by a whistleblower who had been paid for whistleblowing, it could be more difficult to secure a conviction than if the whistleblower was protected in his or her place of work. The risk being taken would not lead to financial benefit but neither would it lead to a loss of employment. The issues surrounding whistleblowing are very important and I am confident all of the issues related to it will be looked at in the forthcoming Bill. At present, however, the Minister is of the view that there will not be payment for whistleblowing.