Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This group of amendments relates to the very constructive and helpful debate on the Bill that took place in this and in the other House. The specific proposals concern the case that the Minister should issue guidelines to public bodies setting out the matters which their internal procedures should address to ensure consistency across public bodies - Members will recall that Senators raised the issue in the debate on the Bill in this House that there should be a consistent approach across all public bodies in regard to handling of whistleblowing - as well as to seek to make sure that internal procedures in all public bodies are as effective as possible. The case was also made that public bodies should report on their activities in regard to protected disclosures once they had been received.

Having considered all the points made and given that these matters are important, I have reflected further and have tabled these amendments. I am confident that amendments Nos. 37 and 38 fully address the issues raised in this and in the other House.