Written answers

Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Department of Justice and Equality

Protected Disclosures

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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420. To ask the Tánaiste and 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]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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As 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.

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