Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is a simple amendment placing a time obligation on companies with more than 50 employees within which they must establish internal reporting channels. This is a time-specific amendment and we reserve the right to bring further amendments on Report Stage on the question of timely restitution or timely response. Many whistleblowers have expressed concern that there are times specified for the commencement of an investigation, but not for the period of time within which resolution or a response is to be given or in which redress should be provided.

People who have made a whistleblowing complaint often wait a very long time, as the Minister has heard. I am glad he gave some acknowledgement in his earlier amendment. Some people who made a complaint many years ago are still awaiting the information on what happened and the result of that action. For those who have experienced penalisation or retribution, the consequences have continued year after year and the process of getting restitution payments has been very long. This is a very specific amendment relating to companies. I reserve the right to table further amendments on some of the timings in the Bill on Report Stage.