Get useful tips, learn best practices and read the latest newsThe Whistlelink Blog

Ireland adopts new whistleblowing law

Ireland adopts new whistleblowing law.

Download our free whitepaper:

How to get compliant with the Whistleblowing Law

Transposition of the EU Whistleblowing Directive into a national whistleblowing law has been completed in Ireland. On 21 July 2022, President Higgins signed the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022. The law will enter into force on January 1, 2023.  

All private employers with 250 or more employees, as well as public bodies, must implement reporting channels by this date. For employers with between 50 and 249 employees, the deadline is December 17, 2023. 

Transparency International Ireland have raised concerns 

TI Ireland mentions measures that could potentially weaken the existing protection of whistleblowers (from 2014). Such measures include; 

  • the requirement for public servants to report directly to their employer before reporting to the government 
  • creating new criminal penalties for knowingly submitting false reports 

Overall, the new Whistleblower Act is expected to strengthen the already relative strong safeguards for whistleblowers in Ireland.  

The new whistleblower law in Ireland will: 

  • Broaden the scope of the previous Act (2014) in relation to reporting breaches of Union law. 
  • Extend whistleblower protection to volunteers, unpaid trainees, job applicants, board members, and shareholders who make a report. 
  • Impose new obligations for private sector and charity employers with more than 50 employees, to have a process for protected disclosures.  
  • Reverse burden of proof (employers will have to show that no one has penalized an employee for making a protected disclosure). 
  • Create new criminal penalties for hindering protected disclosures, failing to establish internal whistleblowing channels, or subjecting a whistleblower to reprisals. 

The legislation will also require employers to provide feedback to whistleblowers. Organisations with more than 50 employees must implement policies and internal reporting channels that allow for “diligent follow-up” on whistleblower reports.  

A new Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner will be hosted in the Office of the Ombudsman, to assess and oversee investigation of external whistleblower reports.  

According to Transparency International Ireland, the impact of the reforms will depend on how policy makers will implement the more ambiguous details of the whistleblowing law. You can find more information about Protection for whistleblowers in Ireland on Citizens Information.  

Would you like to learn more about a whistleblowing service and safe internal reporting channels? You can read more about the EU Whistleblowing Directive or contact us to discuss a secure whistleblowing solution for your organisation.

If you have any thoughts about this article or would like to know more about Whistlelink, we’d love to hear from you.

Are you looking for a safe and secure whistleblowing solution for your organisation?Please book a free demo of our system in the calendar below!

Talk with Territory Manager
Annelie Demred

0046 (0)706 83 82 88

WEBINARThe Whistleblowing Law

Annelie DemredVP, Strategy and Growth

Are you up to date?

Wednesday   |   11:00 – 11:30

WHISTLELINK BLOGWhat to read next...​

Best practices for building an effective team to investigate internal whistleblowing reports
Key factors to make your whistleblowing system work 
Poland’s whistleblowing deadline approaches: Ensuring compliance with Whistlelink 
Whistlelink resources

Download your free Whitepaper

Nice to meet you!

Get in touch

Our team would like to offer you a free demo of Whistlelink.
Please select a suitable time in our calendar.

Talk with Territory Manager
Annelie Demred

0046 (0)706 83 82 88

HAPPY TO MEET YOU!

Get in touch

Our team is ready to answer your questions. Find the answer by visiting our support centre, or fill out the form below and we'll be in touch as soon as possible. Or simply give us a call!

Talk with Territory Manager
Annelie Demred

0046 (0)706 83 82 88

HAPPY TO MEET YOU!

Get in touch

Our team is ready to answer your questions. Find the answer by visiting our support centre, or fill out the form below and we'll be in touch as soon as possible. Or simply give us a call!

Talk with Territory Manager
Annelie Demred

0046 (0)706 83 82 88