Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made regarding 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. [31612/05]

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 on a number of occasions in the House, 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 came into effect from 1 September 2005 and 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 of corruption and malpractice in the Garda Síochána.