Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 June 2019
142. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of whistleblower complaints in his Department since the legislation was introduced in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25663/19]
View answerI have been advised that since the introduction of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 to 31 December 2018, the number of Protected Disclosures received in my Department classified as such, following assessment, is 52. Under the Act, a Protected Disclosure is defined as being a disclosure of relevant information relating to wrongdoing made by a worker in the manner specified in the Act.
This figure also includes Protected Disclosures directed to the Minister from workers in An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service.
I can also advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service, Legal Aid Board, National Disability Authority, the Courts Service, An Garda Síochána and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission have their own Protected Disclosures Policies in place and report separately on disclosures received.
The Department produces Annual Reports on Protected Disclosures, the most recent of which, for 2017, is available at the following link:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Report_on_Protected_Disclosures_received_in_the_Department_of_Justice_and_Equality_(Vote_24)_in_2017
