Protected Disclosures Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Ceisteanna (292)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

292. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 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. [32404/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

To date, no external consultancy or legal firm has been engaged by my Department in respect of a protected disclosure.

The Deputy may be aware that the Office of Government Procurement, which is a Division of my Department, in conjunction with the policy unit of my Department that is responsible for the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, has put in place a national framework for services related to the receipt and investigation of protected disclosures. This framework sets out and addresses the protections provided to persons under the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014 and may be availed of by public bodies, including this Department, as required.