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MacNeill. As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitisation is the lead-Department on protected disclosure legislation and provides guidance on all protected disclosure processes and guidance. Section 21(1) of the Protected Disclosures Act in Ireland empowers … assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities under the Act. This guidance aims to help public bodies establish and maintain effective procedures for handling protected disclosures. The Minister may also issue guidance on the information that must be published setting out how disclosures may be made to Ministers

wish to highlight the vital importance of whistleblowers in our health system, and call for immediate Government action in light of alarming protected disclosures that have been made by a qualified healthcare professional and pharmaceutical researcher regarding health policy, regulatory failures, and Covid-era interventions. This disclosure, made … accordance with the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, raises profoundly serious concerns, which if true, that strike at the heart of patient safety, medical ethics, and public accountability. The issues raised involve alleged misuse of end-of-life protocols, failures in vaccine safety oversight, and potentially criminal levels

workplace. The Department provides the necessary supports for any staff member who raises any possible wrongdoings. A staff member who makes a protected disclosure under the Protected Disclosures Act is protected from penalisation or threatened penalisation. The Department has established procedures for the making of protected disclosures … details of how to make these reports through the appropriate channels are published on the Department's website. In accordance with the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, all reports received via these channels are forwarded to the Office of Protected Disclosures Commissioner. The commissioner ensures that the report

thank Deputy O'Flynn. I take with great seriousness the issues he has identified on the experience of individuals relating to the protected disclosures regime. As he knows, we have various legislation from 2014 up to 2022 reflecting the updated reforms introduced, some of which were introduced … practice. Under the current regime a review is built in under the 2022 Act, which is due in 2027. We also have the Protected Disclosures Commissioner, who independently has a statutory function in the context of protected disclosures. Support from my Department is given to Transparency International Ireland

When the Government was transposing the EU directive on protected disclosures, I was clear at the time and I voiced significant concerns. I felt it was perhaps deliberately going to weaken the transposition. I said I felt the setting up of the protected disclosures office was a retrograde … step and that it removed a protected disclosure as a political issue. Previously, an Opposition TD could deliver a protected disclosure to the relevant Minister and then seek to know what progress had been made. Now, the Minister will simply say that has been handed to the protected

raise concerns about wrongdoing in the workplace. We have been on quite a significant legislative journey to try to get it right. The Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014. It was enhanced and amended during the previous Dáil through the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022. A statutory … review of the Protected Disclosures Act is built in. That is due to commence, I am told, in the near future. Under the law, it must be done by 2027. It must be done within five years. A public consultation will be held as part of that review

raise a matter of grave concern regarding the practical effects of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. While the Act was conceived with noble intent in the shadow of the experience of the Maurice McCabe case and his testimony, the reality for many whistleblowers across this nation is that … odds with the lived reality of the legislation. Recent findings of the commission of investigation into the Grace case underscore this point. Despite protected disclosures having been made, the system failed with harrowing consequences. The individuals who spoke out were not met with support but with institutional silence

Department in meetings of the Commission's whistleblowers expert group. I would also make the Deputy aware that a statutory review of the Protected Disclosures Act is due to commence and as part of this review a public consultation will be carried out. We would encourage different stakeholders … whistleblowers to participate in this consultation. The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 was amended in 2022 and these amendments sought to address a number of issues that were raised during the 2018 statutory review of the 2014 Act. The upcoming statutory review will provide a valuable insight into

Minister might be aware that I have a particular interest in the issue of protected disclosures and protecting whistleblowers. I worked well with the previous Minister, Michael McGrath, in regard to the EU directive. I put forward my own legislation on this. There is obviously now going … review of that. There is the EU review of the protected disclosures regime, and I am interested in an update on that

been given this year to Transparency International Ireland as part of legal advice to be provided to those who want to make a protected disclosure. I welcome that the European Commission has an ongoing review of this, so we will listen to the wider public feedback … That will allow any required reforms out of that to occur. I share the broader objectives relating to ensuring that we have a protected disclosure regime which supports and protects whistleblowers. That is my policy interest in this area

HPRA. The authority was informed of cDNA contamination in vaccines but did not investigate. We had a systemic failure of the protected disclosures process itself, including, as I said, ministerial-level stonewalling of urgent safety data, resulting in zero investigations into serious allegations involving avoidable death, medical misconduct … longer credible to delay. Will the Minister of State commit to commissioning an independent public inquiry into the contents of this protected disclosure? Will he direct the HPRA, the PSI and the Department of Health to respond substantively and transparently to the evidence submitted? Will he ensure

Kilminchy and Athlunkard. What is he going to do? With all of the information at his disposal, all of the information about the protected disclosures that have been sitting there for two years and all of the information that HIQA effectively failed in its duties, is he prepared … nursing homes to transform themselves? The safety and welfare of residents should not be made to wait. It is worth recalling that protected disclosures were made two years ago about nursing homes that were not covered in the “RTÉ Investigates” programme, where residents were made

Department works with the protected disclosures national advisory group, a forum of disclosure managers from Departments, public bodies and prescribed persons to share best practice and identify any challenges that are emerging from the existing legislative framework. I will ask them to review what the Deputy has stated … existing legislative position. Important reforms were made in 2014 and in 2022, all in the interest of supporting those who make a protected disclosure to Departments. I want to ensure that the framework we have is in line with best practice, both in at domestic and European levels

equally as difficult as that of Garda Maurice McCabe. It is every bit as alarming. In 2019, a former Tusla employee made a protected disclosure. He reported serious governance problems. It resulted in relentless retaliation and attack. In 2021, Tusla sent him a formal letter questioning his capability … retaliations from Tusla continued and the attacks deepened. The information we have obtained shows there was a formal complaint to the Data Protection Commission that Tusla contacted the whistleblower's private counsellor and demanded access to confidential records. That is an extraordinary breach of personal privacy

asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department’s submission to the EU review of the protected disclosures regime will refer to the views of whistleblowers from the Farrelly commission and Children's Health Ireland (children’s hip surgeries) about

required as part of the broader EU transposition. From a domestic perspective, we will have a statutory review of the operation of the Protected Disclosures Act. This is due to happen in parallel with the EU review over the coming years. In the context of domestic, international

airport. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae - To discuss issues of food security and production. Deputy Mattie McGrath - To discuss the role of whistleblowers making protected disclosures on health matters. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss escalating child homelessness in Cork city. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú - To discuss the provision

relevant information to the relevant Department or Minister, who will process that in accordance with the laws of the land and the Protected Disclosures Act. Without knowing the details of the case or pre-judging any information that I do not yet know, the WRC and Labour Court

importation of firearms, ammunition and related materials by An Garda Síochána. Deputy Mattie McGrath - To discuss the role of whistleblowers making protected disclosures on health-related matters. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss funding for playgrounds that have been subject to antisocial behaviour and vandalism. Deputy John Connolly

times for a primary care psychology assessment for children in Dublin North-West. Deputy Mattie McGrath - To discuss the role of whistleblowers making protected disclosures on health related matters. Deputy Thomas Gould - To discuss the need for specific funding to reinstate playgrounds that have been subject to antisocial

assure the Deputy that this is my genuine intention. A legislative framework must protect whistleblowers and those who make a protected disclosure. I will ask the advisory group, which consists of a number of members across different Departments, to review what the Deputy has said and indeed

there to protect the agency and saw corporate governance and governmental issues with the agency. He made a disclosure and tried to protect the agency, and he was met with a wall of attack and silence

Board in September 2024; and — amend the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 to grant the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission statutory authority to compel the disclosure of information when carrying out market studies in line with powers already available in the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions … That is why our motion makes an important demand. It seeks to amend the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 to grant the regulator the statutory authority to compel the disclosure of information when carrying out market studies. This is what happens in other countries like

retailers with a turnover of over €10 million to publish full, audited annual accounts and that the Consumer Protection Act be amended to compel disclosure of information. That is very important. I strongly support Deputy Nash’s amendment to the motion. We have 250,000 children living

boost to meet the same standard going forward. We also have to look at the protection of gardaí. This is a serious issue. They have a responsibility of non-disclosure in their communities and they do not want to be whistleblowers, but they are concerned. They … making up a story because it is a serious issue, especially given recent events. That prompted their call for further and proper protective gear going forward, especially coloured gear, for their safety on the side of the road. They are keeping us safe in the long term. That

Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of protected disclosures made from 2015 to date relating to care in Children’s Health Ireland, broken down by internal and external; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42817/25

asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if his Department’s submission to the EU review of the protected disclosures regime will refer to the views of whistleblowers from the Farrelly commission and Children's Health Ireland (children’s hip surgeries) about