17 Apr 2012, 15:26
The Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform will discuss proposed whistle-blowers legislation with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform at its meeting tomorrow, 18th April.
Committee chairman Alex White, TD said: “We are pleased that Minister Howlin is coming before the Committee to discuss the General Scheme of Protected Disclosure in the Public Interest Bill, 2012 - or what is more commonly known as the ‘whistle-blowers legislation’. Draft heads of the Bill were published by the Minister at the end of February.
At the moment, legislation in this area is inadequate, so the publication of the draft heads of a bill on whistle-blowers legislation is both welcome and necessary. It is clear that Ireland needs legislation that would provide an adequate framework to protect whistle-blowers in all sectors, whether it is in the public or private sectors, against punishment, penalties or reprimand where they disclose information about wrongdoing, low standards or illegal behaviour in the workplace.
The meeting will give Members a chance to engage with the Minister and raise any issues or concerns they may have in relation to the proposed legislation. It will also provide the Minister with an opportunity to discuss in detail the various measures in the bill designed to safeguard workers and support a workplace culture that protects whistleblowing on bad practices and wrongdoing.”
The Committee will also examine a number of statutory instruments, including SI 28 of 2012 – Oireachtas (Allowances) (Certain Ministers of State) Order and SI 37 of 2012 – Oireachtas (Allowances) (Amendment) Order 2012.
This meeting will take place today, Wednesday 18th April, in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000 at 4.30pm.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
TDs
Alex White (LAB) (Chairman)
Richard Boyd-Barrett (IND)
Michael Creed (FG)
Jim Daly (FG)
Pearse Doherty (SF)
Stephen Donnelly (IND)
Timmy Dooley (FF)
Sean Fleming (FF)
Joe Higgins (IND)
Heather Humphreys (FG)
Kevin Humphreys (LAB)
Peter Mathews (FG)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF)
Mary Lou McDonald (SF)
Michael McGrath (FF)
Michael McNamara (LAB)
Olivia Mitchell (FG)
Kieran O’Donnell (FG)
Arthur Spring (LAB)
Billy Timmins (FG)
Liam Twomey (FG) (Vice-Chair)
Senators
Sean D. Barrett (IND)
Thomas Byrne (FF)
Michael D’Arcy (FG)
Aideen Hayden (LAB)
Tom Sheahan (FG)
Katherine Zappone (IND)