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Protected Disclosures 

A protected disclosure is a disclosure of information which, in the reasonable belief of a worker, tends to show one or more relevant wrongdoings; came to the attention of the worker in a work-related context; and is disclosed in the manner prescribed in the Act

The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, protects workers in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors from retaliation if they speak up about wrongdoing in the workplace. Persons who make protected disclosures, sometimes referred to as whistleblowers, are protected by this law. They should not be treated unfairly or lose their job because they have made a protected disclosure

The Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency is prescribed to be the recipient of disclosures from workers when they reasonably believe that the relevant wrongdoings relate to the protection of the environment in the State and that the information disclosed, and any allegations contained therein, are substantially true. 

Disclosures made under Section 7 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, should provide a description of the relevant wrongdoing, copies of information that tend to show the relevant wrongdoing if available and your preferred contact details. Anonymous disclosures will be investigated insofar as is practicable with the information supplied. 

Disclosures made to the Director General as a prescribed person, should be marked as confidential and can be made using any of the following methods;

Letter:

Protected Disclosure

Director General EPA 

PO Box 3000 

Johnstown Castle Estate 

Wexford, Y35 W821. 

Email:                       

P.Disclosures@epa.ie (Protected Disclosure Officer)

Telephone:             

053-9160600 (Seeking to speak with the Protected Disclosure Officer)

 

Upon receipt of your protected disclosure, the EPA:

  • Will acknowledge receipt of your Protected Disclosure within 7 days;
  • Will protect your identity in as far as possible, but the EPA may be obliged to reveal your identity so that a proper investigation can be carried out;
  • Will undertake an initial assessment and assign a designated person to investigate, where prima facie evidence exists that environmental wrongdoing may have occurred;
  • May need to contact you to obtain additional information as necessary;
  • Will provide feedback to you within 3 months and at 3 month intervals thereafter if required/requested;
  • May elicit assistance and /or assign responsibility for investigating the alleged environmental wrongdoing to a local authority or other relevant body;

 

Independent Advice

All workers should consider seeking independent advice and support if they are considering making a protected disclosure or have made a protected disclosure. Exchequer funding is provided to Transparency International Ireland for the provision of a free Speak-Up Helpline and Legal Advice Centre in this regard. Advice and support may also be available from workers’ trade unions as well as Citizens’ Advice.

 

Making a Protected Disclosure as an employee of the EPA

When making a Protected Disclosure as an employee of the EPA, workers should contact the Protected Disclosure Officer, with information concerning the relevant wrongdoing, who will designate a person or persons to look into the matter in accordance with the EPA’s Protected Disclosure (Whistleblowing) Policy.

 

Protected Disclosure Reporting

Under Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014 each public body is required to publish an annual report setting out the number of protected disclosures received in the preceding year.