I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on nor confirm the existence of any specific protected disclosure. Nor would it be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases involving staff of my Department or the agencies under its remit.
However, as the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow workers report alleged wrongdoing to the appropriate authorities. The Act, as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, also affords very important protections to persons making protected disclosures. The process for making a protected disclosure rightly prioritises the confidentiality of the individual making the disclosure. This confidentiality is central to the effectiveness of the process.