Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A report appears in one of the daily newspapers today claiming that attempts were made to undermine a Garda whistleblower through encouraging officers to attack his character, creating an intelligence file on him, monitoring his activities on the PULSE system, making false allegations about his character and briefing elements of the media and selected politicians in a similar vein. I am aware of these media reports obviously alleging a concerted campaign by senior Garda officers to undermine the credibility of a Garda whistleblower. Let me confirm for the House that the Tánaiste has recently received correspondence from members of the Garda Síochána under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, which is now being considered. The maintenance of confidentiality in relation to protected disclosures is absolutely fundamental. In these circumstances and in line with the statutory obligations under the 2014 Act, the House would not expect me to go into detail about who has made these disclosures or the nature of the allegations contained in them at this particular time. The Tánaiste will consider now how best to proceed in relation to these protected disclosures and take whatever action may be deemed appropriate. Our determination to deal with the protected disclosures properly is underlined by the new arrangements under the 2014 Act.

The Tánaiste has referred the issue of what should be best practice in An Garda Síochána for how whistleblowers are dealt with to the Policing Authority, which is now independent and which will be reporting on this matter when it has concluded its own work.

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