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Protected Disclosures Commissioner publishes annual report for 2025
From Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner (OPDC)
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The Protected Disclosures Commissioner, Ger Deering, today published a report on the work of his Office during 2025 dealing with reports of wrongdoing in the workplace.
The Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner sends reports it receives of wrongdoing in the workplace (sometimes called ‘whistleblowing’) to the organisation best placed to follow-up on the report, such as a regulator for that area. Mr Deering’s Office also deals with a report of workplace-wrongdoing if there is no appropriate organisation to deal with it.
The Office received 411 reports of wrongdoing in the workplace in 2025. While this is a significant increase on the 262 reports received in 2024, Mr Deering said that this did not necessarily reflect an increase in wrongdoing in the workplace but was partly due to an increase in the number of reports received that appeared to be more general complaints, requests for assistance or concerned interpersonal disputes. Mr Deering said that making a report under the Protected Disclosures Act is not something to be taken lightly, and that it is imperative that those who make legitimate reports of wrongdoing are protected and their reports are correctly followed up.
The protected disclosures regime applies to both public and private sectors. The Commissioner reminded all private sector employers with more than 50 staff that they are required to have internal reporting channels for receipt of reports of wrongdoing under the Protected Disclosures Act. While 2025 saw an increase in reports from workers in the private sector the Commissioner noted that the number remained comparatively low.
In his 2025 annual report the Commissioner also again expressed his disappointment that there has been no change to the “unrealistic and unhelpful” time limits set out in legislation within which reports are to be dealt with. He said that the time limits present a problem for people making reports, for bodies dealing with reports and his Office.
Further details are set out in the Protected Disclosures Commissioner’s Annual Report 2025 Protected Disclosures Commissioner’s Annual Report 2025
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Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner (OPDC) Annual Report 2025
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Note for Editors
The Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner was set up under the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act, 2022. The Act provides that the Ombudsman (currently Ger Deering) will be the Protected Disclosures Commissioner. The Office commenced operations on 1 January 2023.
The role of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner is to send reports of wrongdoing in the workplace (received from a worker, a Government Minister, or a ‘prescribed person’ such as a regulator), to the most appropriate organisation to follow-up on the report in accordance with the Act.
In certain circumstances, the Protected Disclosures Commissioner will consider a report of wrongdoing and follow it up if there is no other appropriate organisation.
Therefore, someone wishing to make a protected disclosure can contact their employer, a Government Minister, or a ‘prescribed person’ such as the Workplace Relations Commission or HIQA. If they are unsure where to go, they can also contact the Protected Disclosures Commissioner who will send it to the person best placed to deal with it.
Media Queries:
Dave Nutley
Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner
Ph: 086 412 0240
Email: david.nutley@ombudsman.ie
6 Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2
www.opdc.ie