Protected Disclosures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2021

Thursday, 25 March 2021

Questions (11, 12)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

11. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number that were accepted as a protected disclosure; the number that were in part or fully examined by a third party or consultancy; the number of protected disclosures under investigation over this time period; and the number that were finalised and the contents accepted and acted on. [16029/21]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

12. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 from officials within his Department; the number of officials who made protected disclosures over the period and who are now not working in his Department; and the number of protected disclosures received from retired officials of his Department over the period. [16047/21]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.

Since the Protected Disclosure legislation was introduced in 2014, my Department has received 10 Protected Disclosures as set out in the table below

YEAR DISCLOSURE RECEIVED IN MY DEPARTMENT	NUMBER OF DISCLOSURES RECEIVED	EXTERNAL OR THIRD PARTY INVESTIGATION	CURRENT STATUS
2017	1	Legal advice procured to support Department officials.	Closed – no evidence of wrongdoing under The Protected Disclosure Act 2014  following investigation.
2018	1	Legal advice procured to support Department officials.	Ongoing
2019	3	Legal advice procured to support Department officials with one case.	Three closed with only one requiring investigation. No evidence of wrongdoing under The Protected Disclosure Act 2014 following investigation.
2020	4	Legal advice procured to support Department officials with two  cases.	Two closed requiring no investigation. Ongoing investigation in the remaining two.
2021	1		Closed – no investigation required.

The Act imposes an obligation to protect the identity of the discloser and in this regard information cannot be  given on  individuals who have made disclosures.