Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is no doubt aware that section 16 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 sets out confidentiality requirements regarding the protection of the identify of a discloser. It is, therefore, not possible for me to go into detail regarding any actions being taken on foot of any individual disclosure to ensure that such individual's confidentiality is not breached.

However, as I have previously stated in the House, the health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces are a priority for me and the general staff and I am fully committed to compliance with the requirements of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and to the protections contained in that Act.  To this end, I want to ensure that those making protected disclosures are reassured that where such disclosures are made in accordance with the legislation they will continue to be dealt with in a thorough and fair manner.  I have made it very clear to my Department and the Defence Forces that the protections of the Act must be afforded to those who make qualifying disclosures under the Act.

To assist in ensuring a uniform approach to protected disclosures across the Defence organisation, I established a single civil-military protected disclosures office in the Department in which all protected disclosures are initially assessed.

I take very seriously any complaint of penalisation or threatened penalisation of a member of the Defence Forces for having made a protected disclosure and I note that a statutory mechanism for investigation is available to the complainant.  The mechanism is the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces as provided for in section 20 of the Act.

Accordingly, any member of the Defence Forces who brings any concern to myself or the civil/military protected disclosures office regarding a feeling that they were penalised or were threatened with penalisation for having made a protected disclosure is advised, as a matter of course, that they should bring the matter to the attention of the independent ombudsman.  I assure the Deputy that each and every case of alleged penalisation is being dealt with in a thorough way.

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