Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

First, I congratulate the emergency services in County Laois. Many of the those involved with the emergency services are volunteers and they are never found wanting when there is a crisis. My former colleagues in the Defence Forces are out again doing their job.

There is a bit of a frenzy going on in politics at present. I am not here to speak for the Tánaiste, although I have some sympathy for her in the context of the difficulty in which she finds herself. Nor am I here to condemn Deputy Kelly, who placed information that was brought to him in the public domain. There is a sinister undercurrent to what is going on. Clearly, there are people who work for this State who are prepared to withhold information of which they are aware until an opportunity arises. What is their agenda? What are they trying to do? This is something that can destabilise an entire democracy. We have whistleblower legislation in place. Why are they not using that? The McCabe family has gone through hell. When they were going through the worst of what they experienced, why, if it was known about, was the information that has now been leaked not brought forward? We need to be very careful about what is happening in this State. It is possible for people in public jobs to destabilise or undermine a Minister. I am not speaking for the Tánaiste, Deputy Fitzgerald. I want to make that very clear. She is well able to speak for herself.

If there has been wrongdoing, the facts about it will eventually become clear. We need to look at the deeper issues that are involved. It concerns me greatly that there may be disgruntled employees in Departments who would work in the morning to destabilise a Minister and, in so doing, perhaps destabilise the entire Government. Democracy deserves better from its public servants . When information is brought to the attention of or leaked to those of us in public life, the first thing we should do is consult the whistleblower legislation and examine the position regarding protected disclosures. Perhaps that is the way we should proceed.