Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
711. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of protected disclosures that have gone missing or have been compromised that have been submitted to his Department or State bodies that are responsible to his Department. [32280/26]
View answerThe Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 provide a robust statutory framework within which workers can raise genuine concerns regarding potential wrongdoing that has come to their attention in the workplace. They can do so in the knowledge that they can avail of significant protections if they are penalised by their employer or suffer any detriment for doing so.
My Department’s Protected Disclosures policy applies to all workers, as defined by the Act, of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and is available on my Department’s website and intranet. The policy outlines the channels and procedures for reporting concerns to ensure that the protection provided to a worker by the Act is made available.
I can confirm to the Deputy that, in respect of my Department, no reports received under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, that were submitted to the dedicated email addresses, as outlined in the policy, have gone missing or been compromised. All such reports are managed in accordance with established procedures and relevant legislation.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding the 13 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the State Bodies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
