Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
420. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of protected disclosures his Department has received since the legislation was introduced; the number of protected disclosures examined to conclusion by year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5309/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 came into operation on 15 July 2014 and my Department has since put a Protected Disclosure Policy in place. The Policy was reviewed during 2019 and a revised Policy is due to be published in 2020.
The Irish Prison Service, Legal Aid Board, National Disability Authority, the Courts Service, An Garda Síochána and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission have their own Protected Disclosures Policies in place and report separately on disclosures received in line with the requirements of the Act.
The information requested is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Number received |
Assessed as not a PD or transferred to IPS |
Closed following investigation |
Ongoing |
|
2015 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
|
|
2016 |
17 |
15 |
2* |
|
|
2017 |
14 |
12 |
2 |
|
|
2018 |
13 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
|
2019 |
15 |
9 |
0 |
6 |
|
Total |
65 |
45 |
9 |
11 |
* One investigation arising in connection with a 2016 case is ongoing.
Four cases relating to the Irish Prison Service (IPS) were transferred to the IPS since the introduction of the IPS Protected Disclosures Policy in July 2018.
