Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 July 2022
192. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he and or his officials consulted with and or received requests from the Minister for Justice or her officials in respect of the protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022 and or amendments to the Bill. [38318/22]
View answerThe Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2020 provides for a substantial overhaul of the statutory framework for the protection of whistleblowers as well as for the transposition of Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law. The process of developing the Bill has involved consultation with a broad range of interested parties.
The General Scheme of the Bill was approved by Government in May 2021 and the text of the Bill itself was approved by Government in February 2022. Observations on both the General Scheme and the Bill were submitted by the Minister for Justice on both occasions in accordance with standard Cabinet procedures.
The Department also engages regularly with Departments and other public bodies on the implementation of the 2014 Act and the impact of the new legislation through an informal Protected Disclosures Network. The Department of Justice participates in this group. The Department also deals with various ad hoc queries from Departments and public bodies on the operation of the Act from time to time.
