Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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205. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of protected disclosures she has received in respect of the cancellation of 999 calls in 2020 and to date in 2021. [51668/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, 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. 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 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, and in that regard it would not be appropriate for me to make a statement on the matter.

Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 requires public bodies to prepare and publish a report each year in relation to the previous year, on the disclosures received and dealt with under its policy, in an anonymised form.

My Department publishes annual reports in respect of Protected Disclosures received in the

Department of Justice and separately on Protected Disclosures made directly to the Minister for

Justice by members/employees, or former members/employees, of An Garda Síochána.  

The Annual Report for Protected Disclosures received by my Department for 2020 is available on our website at www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Department_of_Justice_Protected_Disclosures_AR_2020.pdf/Files/Department_of_Justice_Protected_Disclosures_AR_2020.pdf

The Annual Report for Protected Disclosures made directly to the Minister for Justice by workers, or former workers, of An Garda Síochána for 2020 is available on our website at justice.ie/en/JELR/PD_AGS_2020_Annual%20Report.pdf/Files/PD_AGS_2020_Annual%20Report.pdf