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might not always be possible but striving to make it the norm is laudable. Tied in with this is the need for a legal aid and support fund so whistleblowers, and sometimes their families, can get representation, counselling and assistance. Speaking up should not mean financial ruin … motion should be tested with supporting additional legislation. Gagging clauses and non-disclosure agreements should be banned or hugely restricted. I take on board what the Minister of State said about section 15 of the existing Act but coercion and intimidation are currently very difficult to prove

need to be fully compliant with the directive. While there is free legal advice and counselling available, the lack of free legal aid is a major flaw. It should be brought in straight away. The cap on compensation for whistleblowers under the protected disclosures Act should be removed … changed to ensure that cannot happen. There needs to be a legal requirement to act on useful and verifiable information from anonymous sources. Some public bodies do that, but it is not taking place across the board and has to happen. The Act does not oblige recipients

Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has initiated an immediate review of the Legal Aid Board’s capacity to administer the current civil legal aid scheme, as recommended by the Review of Civil Legal Aid; when he expects this review

annual cost of providing free legal services to asylum seekers and persons seeking international protection through the Refugee Legal Service under the Legal Aid Board; the source of this funding; if he will outline how this expenditure is justified when many Irish citizens are unable to access similar

Affairs and Migration the number of asylum seekers or persons seeking international protection who received free legal advice or representation through the Legal Aid Board, in each of the past five years; and the total expenditure on same in each year. [59943/25

annual cost of providing free legal services to asylum seekers and persons seeking international protection through the Refugee Legal Service under the Legal Aid Board; the source of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59946/25

Migration the number of asylum seekers and persons seeking international protection who have received free legal advice or representation through the Legal Aid Board in each of the past five years; the total expenditure in each of those years; and if he will make a statement