Workers free to flag concerns as whistleblower law marks first anniversary

Workers can raise issues of genuine public interest without fear of sanction, according to a new group hosting an event to mark the first anniversary of the passage of legislation that protects whistleblowers. 

New group hosts event in Bar Council marking Protected Disclosures Act

Workers can raise issues of genuine public interest without fear of sanction, according to a new group hosting an event to mark the first anniversary of the passage of legislation that protects whistleblowers.

The event, ‘Blowing the Whistle, The Protected Disclosures Act 2014: One Year On’, was held this evening [Wednesday] in the Bar Council Distillery Building in Dublin.

It was organised by the Irish Whistleblowing Law Society (IWLS) – a scholarly society, launched at the event, dedicated to fostering knowledge, interest and awareness in all aspects of whistleblowing law.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD, was the keynote speaker.

The whistleblower legislation encourages employees to raise genuine and reasonably held concerns about matters of public interest, free of threat of sanction. The legislation includes all employees, contractors, agency workers, members of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces.

Lauren Kierans BL, a barrister specialising in whistleblower law who spoke at the event, said it was important to mark the one-year anniversary of the commencement of the new legislation.

‘The event marks a significant milestone in giving whistleblowers with genuine concerns of public interest the means to surface their grievances without fear of sanction. The legislation sets an appropriate standard for international best practice for whistleblower protection,’ said Ms Kierans.

The Protected Disclosures Act provides for the availability of interim relief if an employee is dismissed after a whistleblowing disclosure and compensation of up to five years’ salary. The legislation also includes strong protections against the disclosure of a whistleblower’s identity.

Under the Act, employers are legally barred from victimising or dismissing staff for making protected disclosures. Whistleblowers who are unfairly dismissed for making a protected disclosure will be able to seek a court order preventing the employer taking them off the payroll while a case is being heard.

The chief executive of Transparency International, John Devitt, joined Minister Howlin and Ms Kierans as a speaker at the event which was chaired by Marguerite Bolger, SC.

ENDS

Event Details
Time: 5pm
Date: July 14, 2015
Location: Atrium of the Bar Council Distillery Building, Dublin 

ENDS

Media Contacts
Nora Eastwood, Q4 Public Relations, 01 4751444/087 1754149
Shirley Coulter, Director of Communications and Policy, Bar Council of Ireland, 01 817 5116