Mr. Raphael O'Leary:

If an employee is concerned about the impartiality in which his or her protected disclosure would be received, in the working context, head 10 of the general scheme provides for external reporting channels. The worker could avail of this option. The external reporting channels sets out a list of prescribed suitable bodies - these would be regulators - and if there is not an appropriate regulator for that given area of concern, the worker can make the protected disclosure to the newly formed protected disclosures office. That will act as a safeguard and default suitable authority in the event of there not being an appropriate regulator for that area of governance. It is for would-be whistle-blowers to determine whether they believe they will get a fair hearing in their workplace. If they fear they will not, the external reporting channels are available to them and, if not, the protected disclosures office is the default authority.