Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 73: To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans, if any, to introduce whistleblowing legislation as a means of dealing with social welfare fraud. [27995/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

"Whistleblowing" is usually interpreted to mean the reporting in good faith of a breach or potential breach of the law and the protection of the person concerned against penalisation by the entity about which the report has been made. In the context of social welfare, the Central Control Section of the Department accepts reports of possible fraud offered by members of the public in relation to the Department's schemes. Reports are accepted online at www.welfare.ie, by phone or in writing. All reports investigated are dealt with in confidence. A member of the public may give details anonymously.

The number of anonymous reports from members of the public has increased dramatically in the past year, with over 6,400 reports made at end 2009 compared to approximately 1,000 reports made in 2008. The number of anonymous reports from members of the public received to the end of May 2010 was 4,397, an increase of 200% on the number of reports in the same period in 2009. At present whistleblowing legislation is, therefore, not being considered.