Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will not be surprised to hear that Sinn Féin has a particular concern relating to the issue of the interpersonal grievance provision. We expressed particular concern about it before because there are risks that a protected disclosure could be deliberately mischaracterised as arising from a bullying allegation. We requested that the Minister of State remove this provision. He has not done so.

We are trying to be constructive. We have amended this section of the Bill. The first addition that we make includes the words "which clearly does not demonstrate wider wrongdoing". It is to try to be clear that no relevant wrongdoing has been demonstrated. The second addition is to make clear that any attempt by an employer to deliberately mischaracterise a protected disclosure would be considered an offence, as per a previous amendment that my colleague, Deputy Mairéad Farrell, tabled to the Bill, where attempts to hinder reporting are considered an offence.

We have a genuine concern about this. We are trying to be constructive and to engage with the Minister of State. We think this is a good way to strengthen the Bill. I know from my time as a trade union official that this is a route which some employers will, unfortunately, try to exploit. It is important to tighten up the Bill as much as we can. I hope the Minister of State appreciates that we are trying to be constructive with regard to this issue. While we do not agree with the Minister of State about retaining this provision, we are trying to make it better.