Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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216. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of protected disclosures received from staff in his Department in 2016 and to date in 2017; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36762/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Finance has put in place a policy and related procedures for the making of Protected Disclosures in the Department, which have been developed in line with the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014.  This policy and procedures support the Department’s strong commitment to ensuring that the culture and working environment of the Department encourage, facilitate and support any member of staff of the Department in ‘speaking-up’ on any issue that may impact adversely on the Department’s ability to properly and fully carry-out all its roles and responsibilities to the high performance standard required.

As provided for under Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act, a Report is required to be prepared and published on an annual basis setting out the number of disclosures made to the Department in the previous year, the actions taken in response to those disclosures and any other information as may be requested by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under the Act. 

I can advise the Deputy that since the introduction of the Act, no protected disclosures have been made to the Department.  This is set out in the Department's Annual Review 2015, Annual Report 2016, and on the Department's website at the following link - .

I can assure the Deputy that my Department is strongly committed that any appropriate issue raised by a member of staff relating to a matter connected to the conduct of the business of the Department will be dealt with professionally and appropriately.