The Protected Disclosure in the Public Interest (Whistleblower) Bill

[C. Flower]

This week in the Daíl there have been Committee sessions to discuss the Heads of the "Whistleblower Bill."

An AIB whistleblower gave evidence to the Public Finance Committee today. He warned that people need to be able to blow the whistle without their identity being disclosed. He said that disastrous financial consequences might have been prevented, if it had been easier for people to provide warnings of malpractice.

FORMER AIB internal auditor Eugene McErlean has warned that proposed whistleblower legislation may give potential whistleblowers a false sense of security by failing to provide adequate protection to ensure confidentiality.

Mr McErlean told the Oireachtas finance committee he believed the draft law contained an element of uncertainty about the level of confidentiality granted to individuals contemplating coming forward with information about possible wrongdoing.

“In order to encourage individuals to come forward, legislation must first and foremost provide a safe alternative to silence and not offer potential whistleblowers a ‘cardboard shield’ that would entrap them by giving them a false sense of security,” he said.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...317818179.html

Information on the Bill

http://per.gov.ie/2012/02/27/%E2%80%...%80%9D-howlin/

Draft Heads of the Bill

http://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&...XtgDUReF-6CLOg

[Baron von Biffo]

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...aw-205289.html

This thread seems to be the appropriate one for this story. At least until we can hear the other side.