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Protected Disclosure

Public bodies such as government departments, local authorities and certain other publicly-funded bodies like the Residential Institutions Redress Board are obliged to establish and maintain procedures for the making of protected disclosures by workers who are or were employed by it and for dealing with such disclosures. The Residential Institutions Redress Board has put in place a revised Protected Disclosures policy developed in line with the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 .

This policy was approved by the Residential Institutions Redress Board in March 2023.

The purpose of this policy is to encourage and facilitate avenues for employees, Board Members and/or Legal Advisors to the Board to raise concerns within the workplace of the Residential Institutions Redress Board so that appropriate action can be taken.

The Chairman and the Board of the Residential Institutions Redress Board are committed to fostering an appropriate environment for addressing concerns relating to potential wrongdoing in the workplace and to providing the necessary support and protections for staff to raise concerns.

Under this policy, any employee, Board Member and/or Legal Advisor is entitled to raise concerns or issues or to disclose information without fear of penalisation or the threat of less favourable treatment, discrimination or disadvantage.

What is a protected disclosure?

A protected disclosure is a disclosure of information which, in the reasonable belief of a worker, tends to show one or more relevant wrongdoings that came to the attention of the worker in a work-related context and is disclosed in the manner prescribed in the Protected Disclosures Act
2014: https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/act/14/enacted/en/print.html
as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act
2022: https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2022/act/27/enacted/en/print.html

Who can make a protected disclosure?

Section 3 of the Protected Disclosures Act defines a worker as an individual who has acquired information on a relevant wrongdoing in a work-related context.

Any worker under Section 3 of the Protected Disclosures Act who wishes to raise concerns within the workplace of the Residential Institutions Redress Board can do so by emailing protecteddisclosures@rirb.ie

Making a protected disclosure to a Government Minister and/or Ministers of State

Disclosures received by Ministers and Ministers of State are required to be forwarded to the Protected Disclosures Commissioner. The department will endeavour to transmit the disclosure to the Protected Disclosures Commissioner within 10 calendar days of receipt. The reporting person's identity will be treated confidentially in accordance with the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022.

Supports available for an employee making a protected disclosure

Transparency International (TI) Ireland

Transparency International Ireland provide independent and confidential advice for anyone considering reporting a concern or making a protected disclosure and have produced this guide: Speak Up Safety Guide

They can be contacted:

Where appropriate, the helpline can refer callers to access free legal advice from the Transparency Legal Advice Centre.

Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS)

The Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS) provides an internal Employee Assistance Programme to Civil Service staff.

The Service is a work-based professional service which is designed to assist employees manage/resolve work-related and personal difficulties which, if left unattended may adversely affect attendance, work performance and quality of life. The Civil Service recognises its staff as a valuable resource. It aims to build and maintain a resilient workforce to deliver effective services by raising awareness of, and promoting, good mental health in the workplace.

Contact: 0761000030 (on-duty EAO available 9am to 5.45pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5.15pm Friday, except Bank Holidays)

Email cseas@per.gov.ie Website www.cseas.per.gov.ie

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS REDRESS BOARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 22 OF THE PROTECTED DISCLOSURES ACT 2014 AS AMENDED BY THE PROTECTED DISCLOSURES (AMENDMENT) ACT 2022

Monday 20th February 2023

Under Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 each public body is required to publish an annual report setting out the number of protected disclosures received in the preceding year and the action taken (if any). This report must not result in persons making disclosures being identifiable. (See below table for the relevant year).

Protected Disclosures by Year

  • 2014 Nil
  • 2015 Nil
  • 2016 Nil
  • 2017 Nil
  • 2018 Nil
  • 2019 Nil
  • 2020 Nil
  • 2021 Nil
  • 2022 Nil
  • 2023 Nil
  • 2024 Nil