Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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586. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the protected disclosures that have been made in relation to Portlaoise Prison and the Irish Prison Service; and if she will meet the author of the protected disclosure. [7951/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow employees to bring alleged wrongdoing to the attention of the appropriate authorities. The Act also affords very important protections to persons making protected disclosures.

The protection of those wishing to make a protected disclosure rightly prioritises the confidentiality of the process, which is central to the efficacy of that process. I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate therefore, that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on nor confirm the existence of any specific protected disclosure.

Under my Department's Protected Disclosure policy, disclosures are the subject of independent assessment and investigation processes and as such it would not be appropriate for me, as Minister, to meet with any individual involved in an on-going investigation being carried out on foot of a protected disclosure.