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Strategy and governance
From Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner (OPDC)
Published on
Last updated on
From Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner (OPDC)
Published on
Last updated on
Corporate Services support for the Office of the Information Commissioner and a number of other statutory Offices, is provided by the Office of the Ombudsman. While the different Offices each carry out separate and distinct statutory functions, the Office functions as a single amalgamated agency in organisational terms. The Office is funded by one Vote and overseen by an Accounting Officer (Director General) who is supported by a Management Advisory Committee. In carrying out their work our staff embrace the traditional obligations of privacy and integrity in the performance of official duties while at the same time protecting and preserving the statutory independence and functions of each of the constituent offices in which they work. Updates in relation to our Corporate Governance is set out on the Strategy and Governance page on the website of the Office of the Ombudsman.
This page includes information and updates in relation to:
• our Strategic Plan 2022-25
• our compliance with the requirements under the Official Languages Act
• our compliance with the requirements of the Protected Disclosures Act
• our compliance with the requirements under s.42 IHREC Act (the duty on public servants in relation to human rights)
• our Corporate Governance Framework
• our Green Team (including our compliance with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act)
• membership of organisations.
The Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as Amended, provides safeguards for workers who raise legitimate concerns regarding actual or potential wrongdoing in the workplace. The Office has developed procedures in line with the 2014 Act, which have been approved by the Management Team. The procedures detail:
The Office recognises the importance of ensuring that staff feel supported in the workplace. The process supports the Office’s commitment to ensuring that the culture and working environment encourages and facilitates staff in ‘speaking up’ on any issue that impinges on the Office’s ability to carry out its responsibilities.
Section 22 of the 2014 Act requires every public body to prepare and publish an annual report in relation to protected disclosures received under the provisions of that Act:
How many reports were received via internal reporting channels in the calendar year? 0
1 Name of Public Body: Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner
2 Calendar year covered by this report: 2023
3 Reports received in calendar year
3.1 Of the reports received in the calendar year that is the subject of this report, how many were:
3.1.1 Received directly via the external reporting channel established under section 7(2A)? 87
3.1.2 Transmitted by a Minister under section 8(3)(a)? 171
3.1.3 Transmitted by another prescribed person under section 7A(1)(b)(vi) of the Act? 24
3.1.4 Total number of reports received 283
4 Assessment, transmission and follow-up of reports
4.1 Of the total number of reports received in the calendar year as reported in response to Q3.1.4, how many were: (a) Fully (b) Partially
4.1.1 Transmitted to a prescribed person? Fully - 100, Partially - 11
4.1.2 Transmitted to a suitable person? Fully - 155, Partially - 11
4.1.3 Followed-up on directly? Fully - 12, Partially - 2
4.1.4 Closed because the report was clearly minor? Fully - 0, Partially - 0
4.1.5 Closed because it was a repetitive report containing no meaningful new information? Fully - 0, Partially - 0
4.1.6 Referred to another more relevant procedure? Fully - 0, Partially - 0
4.1.7 Closed with no further action taken? Fully - 4, Partially - 0
5 Follow-up of reports
5.1 How many follow-up procedures were opened in the calendar year? 0
5.2 How many open follow-up procedures were carried over from the previous year? 0
5.3 How many follow-up procedures were closed in the calendar year? 0
5.4 How many follow-up procedures remained open at the end of the calendar year? 0
5.5 Of the number of follow-up procedures reported as still open in response to Q5.4, how many are:
5.5.1 Open less than 1 year? 0
5.5.2 Open more than 1 year but less than 3 years? 0
5.5.3 Open more than 3 years but less than 5 years? 0
5.5.4 Open 5 or more years? 0
5.6 What was the average length of the investigations closed in the calendar year? 0
5.7 What was the median length of the investigations closed in the calendar year? 0
6 Matters followed-up
6.1 Of the follow-up procedures opened in calendar year reported in response to Q5.1, how many involved:
6.1.1 Criminal offences? 0
6.1.2 Breaches of a legal obligation? 0
6.1.3 Miscarriage of justice? 0
6.1.4 Endangerment of health and safety? 0
6.1.5 Damage to the environment? 0
6.1.6 Unlawful or improper use of public funds? 0
6.1.7 Acts or omissions that are oppressive, discriminatory or grossly negligent or constitute gross mismanagement? 0
6.1.8 Breaches of the EU laws within the scope of Article 2 of Directive (EU) 2019/1937 (the Whistleblowing Directive)? 0 If any investigations have been opened under this heading, please also complete Q7. Otherwise proceed to Q8
6.1.9 Concealment or destruction of information tending to show any matter falling within items 6.1.1 to 6.1.8? 0
7 Matters followed-up - Breaches of EU laws
7.1 Of the follow-up procedures reported as opened in response to Q6.1.8 (breaches of EU law), how many involved breaches of: Complete this section ONLY if one or more investigations have been opened in respect of breaches of the EU laws within the scope of Article 2 of Directive (EU) 2019/1937 (the Whistleblowing Directive).
7.1.1 Public procurement? 0
7.1.2 Financial services, products and markets, and prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing? 0
7.1.3 Product safety and compliance? 0
7.1.4 Transport safety? 0
7.1.5 Protection of the environment? 0
7.1.6 Radiation protection and nuclear safety? 0
7.1.7 Food and feed safety and animal health and welfare? 0
7.1.8 Public health? 0
7.1.9 Consumer protection? 0
7.1.10 Protection of privacy and personal data and security of network and information systems? 0
7.1.11 The financial interests of the EU? 0
7.1.11 The functioning of the EU Internal Market? 0
8 Outcome of investigations
8.1 For discussion 0
9 Anonymous reports
9.1 Of the total number of reports received in response to Q3, how many were made anonymously? 38
9.2 How many investigations were opened in response to anonymous reports in the calendar year? 0