The Government has today approved protection for whistleblowers as contained in the Criminal Justice Bill 2011.
Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter TD, who present the Bill to the Dáil today, hopes it will be passed prior to summer recess. According to a press release from the Department of Justice and Equality the Minister wishes to ensure stronger whistleblower protections before the Bill is enacted.
Under Section 19 of the Criminal Justice Bill 2011, a person may not withhold information without reasonable excuse that may be of material assistance to the duties of the Gárdai.
The Minster stated that “it is important that persons who provide this information will not be dismissed from their employment or suffer penalisation in the workplace as a result of their compliance with the requirements of the Bill”.