Protected Disclosures Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Ceisteanna (2387)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

2387. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of protected disclosures for which he has engaged an external consultancy and or legal firm since 2014 to date; the name of the firms engaged; the year and the costs associated with engaging the consultancy and or legal firms in respect of protected disclosures; the way in which persons are protected in cases in which an external consultancy firm is engaged in respect of protected disclosures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32407/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

In 2018 I received a submission under section 8 of the Protected Disclosures Act. My Department’s assessment of the matters raised concluded that they constituted a protected disclosure and are therefore afforded the protections of the Act, including those in relation to the protection of the identity of maker of the protected disclosure. I can inform the Deputy that in my Department’s initial assessment of the matters raised it engaged external, sectoral specific expertise to assist with that assessment. I can confirm that any information shared was redacted to protect the identity of the maker of the protected disclosure.

This external expertise was procured in line with relevant procurement guidelines. As the name of the company is itself sectoral specific I do not consider it appropriate to disclose it at this juncture in order to ensure the continued protection of the identity of the maker of the protected disclosure. As details of all external consultancy expenditure are published on my Departmental website, for the same reason I do not consider it appropriate to disclose the cost of the contract.

Question No. 2388 answered with Question No. 2336.