Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made with regard to the Government's proposals to provide legal protection on a sectoral basis for whistleblowers who may wish to expose illegalities or wrongdoing on the part of their employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25438/05]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Whistleblowers Protection Bill 1999 is still retained on the Government legislative programme. However, as previously stated in this House on a number of occasions, it is now considered, on reflection, that the provision of statutory protection for whistleblowers on a sectoral basis might provide a better and more focused approach to dealing with this issue. Recent legislative initiatives in this regard are: section 27 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, which has come into effect from 1 September 2005, provides for protection against dismissal and penalisation of employees who, in good faith, take steps to protect themselves or others in a workplace situation; and section 124 of the Garda Síochána Bill 2004. This section of the Bill provides for regulations relating to the reporting corruption and malpractice in the Garda Síochána.

As part of this approach, it is proposed to move a Government amendment on Committee Stage of the Employment Permits Bill 2005 to include whistleblowing provisions in this Bill. This amendment will be prepared in consultation with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government. The Employment Permits Bill 2005 will be before this House during the current session.

I am currently considering proposals, which will formalise this sectoral approach. To that end, I am looking at the possibility of requiring that draft legislation either on the Government's legislative programme for the current autumn 2005 Oireachtas session or currently in the course of preparation, in consultation with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government, should include, where appropriate, whistleblowing provisions. I hope to bring specific proposals in this regard to Cabinet shortly.