Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2015
479. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on the correspondence (details supplied) regarding claims of mismanagement and a lack of investigation into allegations of abuse and neglect of children in residential care managed by the Health Service Executive. [18502/15]
View answerThe Health Service 'Procedures on Protected Disclosures of Information in the Workplace' were devised to give effect to the legislation on protected disclosures of information as provided for in the Health Act 2004 (as amended by the Health Act 2007). The purpose is to facilitate employees to make protected disclosures in good faith where they have reasonable grounds for believing that the health or welfare of patients, service users or the public may be put at risk, or where there is waste of public funds or legal obligations are not being met, so that the matter can be investigated.
The legislation also provides statutory protection for health service employees from penalisation as a result of making a protected disclosure in good faith in accordance with this procedure.
In this context, I understand that a protected disclosure was raised by two health sector employees in March 2013, with regard to concerns about an organisation that provides services to people with a disability.
As a result of that disclosure, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has been carrying out an investigation into the issues.
As the majority of issues raised relate to the investigation of issues raised in a protected disclosure, which is not yet complete, it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this point.
