Legislation to protect company "whistleblowers" will not be opposed by the Government.

The Whistleblowers Protection Bill, introduced by Mr Pat Rabbitte, (Lab, Dublin SouthWest) offers legal protection to employees who report information they receive of illegality or malpractice in their employment.

The Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Tom Kitt, told the House he fully supported any meaningful measures to increase the protection of workers and he would therefore not be opposing the Bill.

He said, however, there was a need for some caution to ensure the legislation did not become some kind of "crank's charter" by being used as a vehicle by disgruntled employees for spreading rumours against employers or making false allegations for their own reasons.

Mr Rabbitte, who introduced the Bill in Private Members' time, said that if enacted, the legislation would "radically challenge the culture of secrecy that surrounds Irish business and public life". Employees who make disclosures in good faith, "will be protected by the law from civil liability and discrimination in their employment, up to and including dismissal".

He said many abuses "occur in Irish life due to the fact that no one shouted stop. This is just as true in the business world as it has been proven - more radically and tragically - to be true in the area of institutional care."

Mr Rabbitte paid tribute to Mr Alan Shatter (FG, Dublin South) for his Bill for whistleblowers operating in the area of childcare and he acknowledged the role of the Government in accepting the legislation.

He said there was a "genuine public concern at the failure of our regulatory institutions, such as the Revenue Commissioners and the Central Bank, to crack down on glaring abuses of the system. I share this concern. The Labour Party is determined that the safeguards the State has put in place to ensure that decent standards prevail in public and commercial life must work and be seen to work.

"This Bill will greatly assist in this process. It is a Bill that supports the individual against the might of major companies and institutions, public and private. It upholds the right of the individual to draw attention to abuses that affect us all."

Mr Kitt warned, however, that many of its provisions would have to be examined more closely and more consultations would be necessary with the social partners and other interested bodies.

Good employers who respected the practice of information and consultation with their workers did not have to fear the implementation of the measures in the legislation.

Mr Kitt referred to sections of the Bill including the persons to whom protected disclosures might be made. This was a very broad list and needed to be examined in detail and discussed with the bodies concerned.

The Minister said, however, that officials in the Department would maintain regular contact with Mr Rabbitte to ensure that the resultant Bill "contains the best legislative proposals that can be put in place to protect persons from retaliation by their employers for reporting dubious practices to the appropriate authorities".