The publication of a Bill to protect whistleblowers has been welcomed by Transparency International, which described it as an important step in the fight against corruption.
The Bill provides for a legislative framework for the protection of whistleblowers in all sectors of the economy.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin said it addressed a significant gap in Ireland's legal framework for combating corruption.
“Workers can now raise concerns regarding potential wrongdoing that has come to their attention in the workplace in the knowledge that they can avail of significant employment and other protections if they are penalised by their employer or suffer any detriment for doing so,” he said.
“The publication of the Protected Disclosure Bill and its planned enactment in the autumn should instil all workers with confidence that should they ever need to take that decisive step and speak-up on concerns that they have about possible misconduct in the workplace, they will find that society values their actions as entirely legitimate, appropriate and in the public interest.”
Provisions of the Bill
- Whistleblowers who lose their jobs as a result of disclosure of information would be covered under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1997
- Where a whistleblower or a member of his or her family are coerced, intimidated, harassed, discriminated against or otherwise adversely treated the legislation provides for a right of action in tort
- The safeguards apply to contractors, agency staff and trainees as well as employees
- Whistleblowers will benefit from civil immunity from actions for damages and a qualified privilege under defamation law
- Special arrangements will apply to disclosures relating to law enforcement matters and to disclosures that could adversely affect Ireland’s security, defence or international relations
John Devitt, of anti-corruption agency Transparency International Ireland, welcomed the Bill, saying that it was high time that whistleblowers enjoyed the protection of the law for acting in the public interest.
“This could be a very important step both in fighting corruption and promoting higher ethical standards in business and in the public service,” he said. “The Bill should help create an environment in which workers in most categories can speak up without undue fear of retaliation.”
Mr Devitt said a “key innovation” was the provision for a new tort for whistleblowers and their families: “Family members and their colleagues as well as whistleblowers themselves can seek redress through the civil courts and that’s important because we’ve encountered cases where family members of whistleblowers have suffered because of the disclosure.”
He also welcomed the protection afforded to contractors, trainees and agency staff and the provision that all staff would be protected from their first day in employment:
“We know from experience a s well that new employees are more likely to report wrongdoing...This legislation will afford them safeguards from day one.”