MPs  discuss whistleblower protection bill

MPs on Wednesday discussed harmonising the law on whistleblower protection during the House legal affairs committee, while a Disy MP submitted a draft proposal seeking to ban the sale of property in the north.

According to the committee chairwoman and Disy MP Fotini Tsiridou, the amendment to the legislation voted into law in 2022 aims to strengthen the protection of whistleblowers.

This includes a provision to ensure that the relevant ministry provides information to the general public over the support measures that whistleblowers who report violations of EU and national law, have access to.

Another provision includes allowing whistleblowers to seek temporary injunctions from court to prevent or end retaliation, threats and attempts punitive conduct.

Meanwhile, deputies discussed the bill submitted by Disy MP Nikos Georgiou which aims to ban banks from issuing a memo for Greek Cypriot property in the north.

He has long argued that banks have no unified policy on issuing memo’s for immovable property for Greek Cypriot homes in the north, and said the memo has been a tool instrumentalised against displaced Cypriot home owners.  

For instance, banks often make demands to affected Greek Cypriots, issuing ultimatums to property owners telling them that if they comply with a specific request, then the banks can retract the memo, he claims.  

As such, the bill seeks to have clear guidelines on memos, as Georgiou notes not even the Central Bank has issued any circular on the matter.  

The bar association and legal service have expressed their support for the bill, which is expected to go to vote early next year.