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Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022 signed into law
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
On 21 July 2022 President Michael D. Higgins signed the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022, into law. This legislation provides for the transposition of EU Directive 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law.
The Bill amends the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and provides for a significant expansion of its personal scope to include protections for volunteers, shareholders, board members and job applicants for the first time.
The Bill also establishes a new Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner in the Office of the Ombudsman to support the operation of the new legislation. The Commissioner will direct protected disclosures to the most appropriate organisation when it is unclear which organisation is responsible. The aim is to ensure that all protected disclosures will be dealt with appropriately. The Commissioner will also take on responsibility for transmitting all protected disclosures sent to Ministers of the Government to the most appropriate authority for assessment and follow up.