Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2017
267. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to an allegation of senior gardaí in Blanchardstown perverting the course of justice as a result of the political connections of a person (details supplied) arrested under the Public Order Act 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51986/17]
View answerAs the Deputy knows, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to introduce specific protections for whistleblowers. The core provisions in the Act provide for protection from dismissal and other forms of penalisation for the making of a protected disclosure, and for the protection of the identity of persons making disclosures. I am not, therefore, going to discuss the details of any correspondence which I or my Department may have received on behalf of any member of the Garda Síochána alleging Garda wrongdoing. I am sure that the Deputy appreciates that the protection of whistleblowers rightly prioritises the confidentiality of the process, which is central to the efficacy of that process.
Nevertheless, I can say that I have received a Protected Disclosure which makes certain allegations about inappropriate actions taken by certain Gardaí. In line with my duty of confidentiality and to protect the identity of any person who makes a protected disclosure to me I cannot provide any further details at this stage.
My Department has procedures in place for the handling of protected disclosures made to me as Minister. The correspondence concerned is being examined in accordance with those procedures to determine the appropriate action which should be taken in relation to it.
Question No. 268 answered with Question No. 89.
