Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 December 2022
28. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the protected disclosures made to the HSE regarding individualised services provided by an organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61350/22]
View answerThis is the third time in two days that I have raised the issue of Western Care and what has come across my desk. I have deep, grave concerns about what has been reported on protected disclosures. The Minister knows what I am talking about. I want an independent investigation into these serious concerns. This is a matter relating to the most vulnerable people in our community. The information that has been put to us has to be investigated independently. I will make two comments to the Minister. First, there is no point in people conducting investigations into their own behaviours. Second, the staff need to be protected, as do former staff and families who are coming forward with all these stories. Please do not do a cover up on it. I am asking the Minister for an independent, transparent investigation into these serious matters.
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 aims to protect people who raise concerns about wrongdoing in their workplaces. The Act provides for redress for employees who are dismissed or otherwise penalised for having reported possible wrongdoings in the workplace. In general, people who receive the protected disclosures or those who subsequently deal with them may not disclose any information to other persons that may identify the person who made the disclosure. I am, therefore, not routinely made aware of protected disclosures that are made to the HSE for that very reason. It is part of the protection of those who are making them.
The Department has put in place policies and procedures for handling these protected disclosures in line with the Act. I recognise the Deputy has raised this issue on several occasions and the Department is aware of it.
