Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I genuinely and warmly thank the Senator for both the amendment and his contribution. It made me think again about the Bill. It is certainly is not and never was my intention that matters which are basically an essential part of whistleblowing would be or could be relevant matters to be registered under this Bill. That is my understanding of the situation in the Bill. Having reread closely section 5(9), which defines what relevant matters are and what is a disclosable communication, I would point out that the relevant matters under section 5(9) are matters relating to the initiation, development or modification of any public policy or of any public programme; the preparation or amendment of an enactment; or the award of any grant, loan, financial support, contract or any other agreement, or of any licence or authorisation involving public funds, apart from any other matter relating only to the implementation of any such policy programme, enactment or reward or of a technical nature. My advice is still that this achieves what I intended, and what Senator Mullen intends as well, but, for the avoidance of any doubt, I have written again to the Attorney General to be clear that this is achieved. If there is any doubt in the matter, I propose to bring any amending proposal to this House on Report Stage next week. As of now I am satisfied that all the genuine, good and proper concerns raised by the Senator are fully met, but, for the avoidance of doubt, I have asked that this be confirmed formally by the Attorney General to me, and if there is any doubt, or even a shadow of a doubt, I will bring forward an amendment to the Bill next week.