PROCTECTED DISCLOSURES

Internal Reporting of Protected Disclosures

The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 was introduced to allow workers to disclose information about wrongdoing in the workplace by making sure workers who speak up are protected from penalisation. The Act also provided internal, external and regulatory ways to make a disclosure.

In 2019, the European Union adopted Directive 2019/1937 on the protections of persons who report breaches of Union Law and an amendment to the existing legislation was required to implement the Directive’s provisions. Updated legislation was also required to take account of the GDPR and amended Freedom of Information legislation. Consequently, the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 was signed into law on the 21st July 2022.

The primary purpose of the Protected Disclosures legislation is to promote and encourage the development of a positive workplace culture in which raising concerns regarding potential wrongdoing is valued and appropriate action is taken by public bodies in response to such disclosures.

Specifically the key objectives of the legislation are as follows:

• To encourage workers to raise reasonable concerns regarding possible wrongdoing in the workplace so that these concerns can be addressed;
• To underpin a working environment, the primary focus of which is on responding to the “message” (i.e. the report of wrongdoing) rather than on the “messenger” (i.e. the worker making the report).
• To reinforce the legal requirement that public bodies should not penalise a worker who makes a protected disclosure;
• To ensure that a competent and timely assessment and investigation of reports of wrongdoing takes place followed, where necessary, by an appropriate response.

Workers can report wrongdoing internally to their employer or externally to a third party, such as a prescribed person. In accordance with the provisions of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014-2022, the council has appointed Mr. Declan Dolan, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Services as the designated officer to receive protected disclosures.

For internal disclosures by workers to Roscommon County Council the Designated Officer can be contacted by e-mail at protecteddisclosures@roscommoncoco.ie, by telephone at 090 6637161, or by post as follows, Mr. Declan Dolan, Designated Officer Protected Disclosures, SEO Corporate Services, Áras an Chontae, Roscommon, F42 VR98. Please mark all correspondence ‘Private and Confidential’.

External Reporting of Protected Disclosures

The Policy and Procedure below outline the process for making a protected disclosure on wrongdoing, as defined in the protected disclosures legislation, to the Chief Executive of Roscommon County Council as a prescribed person, using external reporting channels.

External disclosures to the Chief Executive of Roscommon County Council may be sent to protecteddisclosures@roscommoncoco.ie or you may contact the designated officer Mr. Declan Dolan, SEO Corporate Services at 0906637161 or by post as follows, Mr. Declan Dolan, Designated Officer Protected Disclosures, SEO Corporate Services, Áras an Chontae, Roscommon, F42 VR98. Please mark all correspondence ‘Private and Confidential’.

Download -               Form for Making a Protected Disclosure - External Version 1.0

                                           Protected-Disclosures-External-Reporting-Policy.pdf (size 1 MB)

Protected-Disclosures-Internal-Reporting-Policy.pdf (size 1.1 MB)

Form-for-Making-a-Protected-Disclosure---Internal-Version-1.0.pdf (size 752.8 KB)

Report prepared and published by Roscommon County Council in accordance with Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014:

Audit Committee Policy & Procedures for dealing with receipt of a Protected Disclosure

Roscommon County Council’s Audit Committee is obliged to ensure that procedures are in place whereby employees of the Local Authority may in confidence raise concerns about possible irregularities in financial reporting or other financial matters.  The policy and procedure can be accessed at the following link:   Audit Committee Policy and Procedures for dealing with Protected Disclosures February 2023 (004).pdf (size 556 KB)