I do not know if the Taoiseach has read the report in today's Irish Examiner on whistleblowers being strategically undermined and under attack, both their personal and professional reputations, at the instigation of senior Garda management. Disclosures have now been made to that effect by a senior officer of the force, who has said that essentially this campaign involved dissemination of texts across a range of gardaí and the opening of an intelligence file on the whistleblowers, undermining the whistleblowers with regard to their character. In essence, it was a character assassination attack, that was organised and the people who engaged in it were engaging in it under instruction. I note that this matter is being passed to the Minister but it demands a fairly dramatic response from the Government. It cannot just be allowed drift into a process. There have been calls to the effect that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission needs greater powers and legislative change. There is an amendment to the Garda Síochána Act with respect to GSOC to deal with some of the issues that Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring raised regarding complaints in respect of Garda whistleblowers and the investigation of them. Can the Taoiseach not only confirm that these amending powers will be granted but that the Government is taking this report very seriously? It is above and beyond just a GSOC investigation. It is above and beyond an investigation into wrongdoing. It is at a very high level of wrongdoing, if I can put it that way to the Taoiseach, without pre-empting any inquiry. It seems to be something that is of the gravest import, if it is true. Disclosures have been made and I believe it is extremely serious. Will legislation in this area be brought forward?

A report appears in one of the daily newspapers today claiming that attempts were made to undermine a Garda whistleblower through encouraging officers to attack his character, creating an intelligence file on him, monitoring his activities on the PULSE system, making false allegations about his character and briefing elements of the media and selected politicians in a similar vein. I am aware of these media reports alleging a concerted campaign by senior Garda officers to undermine the credibility of a Garda whistleblower. Let me confirm for the House that the Tánaiste has recently received correspondence from members of the Garda Síochána under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, which is now being considered. The maintenance of confidentiality in respect of protected disclosures is absolutely fundamental. In these circumstances and in line with the statutory obligations under the 2014 Act, the House would not expect me to go into detail about who has made these disclosures or the nature of the allegations contained in them at this particular time. The Tánaiste will consider now how best to proceed in respect of these protected disclosures and take whatever action may be deemed appropriate. Our determination to deal with the protected disclosures properly is underlined by the new arrangements under the 2014 Act.

The Tánaiste has referred the issue of what should be best practice in An Garda Síochána for how whistleblowers are dealt with to the Policing Authority, which is now independent and which will be reporting on this matter when it has concluded its work.

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. There is the protected disclosures process but we are looking at activity here which goes beyond that and cuts to the very heart of how a police force should be operating.

It was received by the Minister for Justice and Equality under the Protected Disclosures Act.

I accept that.

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It protects the anonymity of the person who has made the disclosure but the activity that is disclosed calls for a wider approach to something that goes to the very core of what we expect from a police force.

The Minister has the report and she is considering it. It is a matter in which, under the Act, confidentiality is absolutely fundamental. In a general sense, the Minister has referred how whistleblowers should be treated under the Act to the independent Policing Authority. It will make its views known. The report has been received by the Minister and she is examining the contents. The 2014 Act kicks in here. The Minister has to decide what is the best thing to do following examination of the information. I have not seen the correspondence or the report but it may well be the case that there are matters here beyond what would be a normal GSOC analysis or investigation.