Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1255. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the purpose of the speakup@irishprisons.ie email account; the date upon which the email address was first publicised; the number of emails in the inbox of the email account; the number of emails sent by that email address; and the frequency with which the email account is monitored. [1376/22]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service is aware of its responsibilities and is proactive in fostering a culture of openness and accountability in which workers can report issues of concern or potential non-compliance with the Irish Prison Service values of integrity, teamwork safety, support and unlocking potential, without fear of repercussions.
The introduction of the ‘speakup@irishprisons.ie’ email was part of a comprehensive suite of measures and procedures brought in with a new Protected Disclosures Policy in July 2018. The specific email was introduced to support the principle of the policy objectives, to encourage staff to make Protected Disclosures at the earliest opportunity and to provide protection where such disclosures are made. It is also possible to make a disclosure in person by appointment with the Protected Disclosures Manager or in writing by sending the Protected Disclosure in a sealed envelope marked “Confidential: For the Protected Disclosures Manager” to PO Box 45, An Post, Main Street, Longford, Co. Longford.
The email address is used as the primary conduit of communication to engage with people who submit protected disclosures throughout the process. The email address is also used by the Protected Disclosures Manager and staff, to administer all aspects of Protected Disclosures which includes contract management, engaging with Transparency International Ireland, the external independent assessor, the external independent investigation teams, communicating with the Department of Justice and their external independent investigation teams for the investigation of protected disclosures made to the Minister by Irish Prison Service employees as provided under Section 8 of the Protected Disclosures Act. It is estimated that there are 7,410 emails in total of which 2,582 of these are outgoing emails.
Since 2018 there have been 24 allegations of wrongdoing received. Emails to speakup@irishprisons.ie are monitored on a daily basis during normal working hours. The Protected Disclosures Manager and two support staff have access to the email address.
