Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2021
142. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to instances in which a person has made a protected disclosure to CIT or MTU and that CIT or MTU have since engaged in mediation with that person and as part of that have asked as a condition of settlement to withdraw the disclosure. [23374/21]
View answer143. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if all personnel within third-level institutions who have made protected disclosures that have not been fully investigated or concluded are receiving their salaries as per the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. [23375/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.
Higher education institutions are independent corporate entities established under statute and on that basis are autonomous with regard to their human resource management function. However, all public sector organisations are required to comply with employment legislation and the provisions set out in the Protected Disclosures Act 2014.
In the context of the legislative autonomy of higher education institutions, including Munster Technological University (and formerly Cork Institute of Technology), it would be inappropriate for me as Minister to comment on an ongoing mediation process. However, my Department has brought the Deputy’s two questions to the attention of the President of the Munster Technological University and asked her to consider the matters raised.
