Written answers

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Protected Disclosures

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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839. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a protected disclosure (details supplied) given to his predecessor in May 2017; and if a series of matters in relation to the disclosure will be addressed. [22020/20]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The disclosure referred to by the Deputy was received in the Department in May 2017. Following consideration by the Department, it was considered appropriate that the disclosure be treated as a protected disclosure and in that regard, it was subsequently forwarded to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for examination. This is in line with the Department’s protocol in relation to the examination of protected disclosures in the higher education sector.

The HEA has examined the matters outlined in the disclosure and has engaged with both the discloser and the higher education institution referred to in the disclosure. The HEA has advised the Department that on foot of that engagement, it considers the matter to be fully examined and no further action was recommended.

The Department understands that the discloser has initiated legal proceedings relating to these matters against the institution in question and that those proceedings are ongoing. As the Deputy can appreciate, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment in relation to a matter currently before the Courts.

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