Protected Disclosures

Wednesday, 15 July 2026

Questions (390)

Ken O'Flynn

Question:

390. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health in cases in which correspondence addressed to the Minister is considered capable of constituting a protected disclosure, but the Department states that the material was not viewed prior to its transmission to the Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner, the person or body responsible for determining that the correspondence should be treated as a potential protected disclosure and transmitted accordingly; the procedures which govern that assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53827/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Department of Health has procedures in place for the handling of correspondence that may fall within the scope of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended.

Where correspondence received by the Department appears to relate to matters arising from a protected disclosure or otherwise to fall within the protected disclosure framework, Departmental officials handle the correspondence in accordance with the Act and the related Statutory Guidance.

The Statutory Guidance provides that reports received through the Ministerial reporting channel are to be transmitted to the Protected Disclosures Commissioner (OPDC), who is responsible for ensuring that they are sent to the most appropriate person or body for assessment and follow-up. The role of a body transmitting a report to the OPDC is not to assess the substantive merits of the information before onward referral.

The Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner operates independently in the assessment and follow-up of matters referred to it.