PROPOSALS TO expand the remit of the Ombudsman and widen the scope of freedom of information legislation will be brought to Cabinet shortly, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin has said.
Legislation to protect whistleblowers will be published by the end of this year, as would changes to the Civil Service code of behaviour to limit potential conflicts of interest when officials leave to work in the private sector, the Minister has promised.
He warned that the extension of freedom of information legislation, to include the Garda and bodies under the remit of the Department of Finance, had major administrative implications.
Mr Howlin was speaking last night at the launch of a new service providing confidential and professional advice for victims of corruption and potential whistleblowers.
The “Speak Up” helpline will offer confidential information for people facing ethical dilemmas or who want to report concerns about wrongdoing in the workplace. The service, established by anti-corruption body Transparency International, will also advise on waste and fraud in public bodies and white-collar crime.
The organisation says the service is the first of its kind in western Europe, although it operated such helplines in 40 other countries around the world.
Mr Howlin described the initiative as timely and significant and a welcome addition to the “architecture of change” contained in the programme for government.
Chief executive John Devitt said the service would offer people the opportunity to “follow their conscience” knowing support and information was available.
Where necessary, the organisation will provide a free referral service to lawyers and other professionals who can provide help.
People with concerns are invited to call a freephone number, 1800 844 866, to speak with a volunteer from TI Ireland, or log on to speakup.ie to send an anonymous or confidential message online.
The group says the “hushmail” e-mail system it uses is electronically encrypted and will allow people to contact the helpline with “reduced risk” of the e-mail account being hacked. The phone service will operate from 10am to 6pm daily.
Funding for the project comes from the European Commission as part of a feasibility study by British and German universities.
Welcoming the Minister’s proposals for change, Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly said the Freedom of Information Act was not there to “do harm”. Where genuine concerns existed about the legislation, it should be scrutinised and amendments made where necessary.
Mr Devitt also paid tribute to the late taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, who played a pivotal role in the formation of TI’s Irish chapter.
