Sean Sherlock
Question:392 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the report by an organisation (detail supplied). [5374/10]
View answerTuesday, 2 February 2010
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Written answers
It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the Report recently published on the website of Transparency International (Ireland) on "An Alternative to Silence" concerning Whistleblower Protection in Ireland. A key recommendation made by the organisation is that Ireland should adopt a generic whistleblower protection law.
Government policy on the provision of legal protection for whistleblowers is to address the issue on a sectoral basis. That is to say that legislation should, where appropriate, contain provisions providing protection for persons reporting suspected offences in good faith. There is already an extensive body of legislation in place, providing protection of this nature, including, most recently the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009, as well as legislation in the Health Sector, the Consumer Protection Act 2007 and the Competition Act 2002. The Employment Law Compliance Bill currently being progressed through the Oireachtas also proposes to include a provision for the protection of whistleblowers. The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2008, for which my own Department has responsibility, is currently awaiting Committee Stage in the Dáil. It also makes provision for the protection of persons reporting suspected offences in good faith.