Organisation information
Department of Justice Protected Disclosures
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The Department is committed to fostering a positive working environment where workers can safely speak up and report concerns of wrongdoing.
There are supports and advice available for workers considering making, or who have made, a protected disclosure. These include Transparency International Ireland (TII) and the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service. Contact details are provided in the relevant section below.
A protected disclosure is a disclosure of information which, in the reasonable belief of a worker, tends to show one or more relevant wrongdoings that came to the attention of the worker in a work-related context and is disclosed in the manner prescribed in the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 , as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 .
The Protected Disclosures Act protects workers from penalisation if they speak up about relevant wrongdoing in the workplace. Persons who make protected disclosures (sometimes referred to as “whistle-blowers”) are protected by this law.
Under the Act, all “workers” of the Department of Justice can make a protected disclosure to the Department.
The Act defines “workers” to include:
- current and former employees
- contractors and consultants
- interns and volunteers
- trainees and job candidates
- board members
Workers are encouraged to report disclosures internally under the Department’s internal procedures. A worker must make a disclosure in the manner set out in the Act in order to be entitled to the protections of the Act. Different requirements and standards apply depending on the person or body to whom a worker makes a protected disclosure report.
To make a protected disclosure report to the Department download the Internal Procedure and Report Form:
Department of Justice Protected Disclosures Internal Procedures
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In order to make a disclosure to the Minister or Minister of State, the worker must satisfy the conditions as outlined in the procedure below.
Please read this procedure in conjunction with the Department’s internal procedure.
All reports received through the Ministerial reporting channel must be transmitted to the Protected Disclosures Commissioner who will ensure the report is sent to the most appropriate person to deal with the concern raised.
To make a protected disclosure report to the Minister or Minister of State download the Ministerial Procedure and Report Form:
Department of Justice Protected Disclosures Ministerial Procedures
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Prescribed Persons: Certain persons are prescribed to receive protected disclosures (" prescribed persons "). This includes the heads or senior officials of a range of bodies involved in the supervision or regulation of certain sectors of the economy or society. Examples of prescribed persons include the ‘Health and Safety Authority’ and the ‘Data Protection Commission’.
The full list of prescribed persons is contained in SI 367 of 2020 .
Prescribed persons under the aegis of the Department are listed in the Department’s Protected Disclosures Internal Procedures.
Where a worker is uncertain as to who the correct prescribed person to report to is, they can make a report to the Commissioner. The Commissioner will then identify and transmit the report to the person they consider most appropriate to follow-up. In exceptional cases the Commissioner will follow-up directly on a report. Further formation is available at OPDC.ie .
Section 8 of the Act details how other external protected disclosures can be made and the requirements that apply.
Transparency International Ireland provide free and independent support to anyone considering making, or having made, a protected disclosure. Anyone can contact the free and confidential Speak Up helpline (1800 844 866) or use the online Secure Report Form , or by email .
The Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS) provides an internal Employee Assistance Programme to Civil Service staff. The Service is a work-based professional service which is designed to assist employees manage/resolve work-related and personal difficulties which, if left unattended may adversely affect attendance, work performance and quality of life.
Workers who are members of a trade union can seek support and advice from their union.
Annual Reports on protected disclosures are published on the Department’s website in accordance with Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014.