RTÉ Brainstorm – What protections do whistleblowers have under Irish and EU law?

April 1, 2021

Whitaker Institute member Professor Kate Kenny, co-leader of the Work, Organizations and Society cluster, has co-authored a new piece for RTÉ Brainstorm. The article looks at what protections whistleblowers have under Irish and EU law.

What protections do whistleblowers have under Irish and EU law?

“The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 offers more robust protections for Irish whistleblowers than available in other countries.” Photo: Getty Images

Analysis: Ireland has one of the strongest whistleblower protection legislations in the world, and incentivises workers to make disclosures internally, but it also permits workers to go outside their organisation if they wish to do so.

By Dr Lauren Kierans Maynooth University, and Professor Kate Kenny NUI Galway

Last week’s RTÉ Investigates revelations shocked the nation. It emerged that the Department of Health was secretly compiling sensitive medical, social care, and educational information on children with autism who were involved in legal actions against the State.

The confidential information on the children and their families was obtained, without consent, from private doctor consultations, local care, community mental health, and support services. Continue reading…