Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
1577. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 30 March 2022, the details of the costs incurred to date relating to this protected disclosure; if he will provide copies of the policies and procedures that his Department refer to when managing protected disclosures from 2014 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20181/22]
View answerMy Department encourages staff to 'speak up' to raise any concerns they may have relating to potential wrongdoing in the workplace and to assure them that it will provide the necessary support for those who raise possible wrongdoings. A staff member who makes a protected disclosure under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 is protected from penalisation.
In accordance with Section 21 (1) of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, my Department has established procedures for the making of protected disclosures by workers who are or were employed by the Department and for dealing with such disclosures. The procedures have been developed in accordance with the guidance issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and are published on the Department's intranet. Where an issue is raised under the 2014 Act the following principles are applied by the Department:
- the concern will be treated seriously and investigated where it is considered appropriate;
- where an investigation takes place, the identity of the person raising the concern will be safeguarded insofar as this is practically possible;
- the person raising the concern will be advised on how the issue has been addressed, including the outcome of any investigation.
Following consideration of the allegations made in the matter referred to by the Deputy, my predecessor as Minister for Health, Simon Harris T.D., arranged for an independent review to be conducted and a report to be submitted to him. This was in accordance with Section 27(9) of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011. This review was completed and the cost was €9,459.24 + 23% VAT (€2,175.63). This totals €11,634.87.
