Failure to protect whistle-blowers in Grace case shows need for review of protected disclosures regime– Mairéad Farrell TD
22 April 2025
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Mairéad Farrell TD, has said that the treatment of the whistle-blowers in the Grace case underscores the need for a review of the protected disclosures regime.
Deputy Farrell added that the current regime was updated in 2022 on foot of what was then a new EU Directive. Concerns were raised at the time by former whistle-blowers, the opposition and the Finance Committee, that the government had not gone far enough to strengthen the legislation in line with the EU Directive.
Teachta Farrell said:
“I think it’s imperative that we hear from the whistle-blowers themselves.
“Given that it was their protected disclosures which helped reveal the serious wrongdoings which had occured, and in light of the fact that one of them, Iain Smith, has said it took a ‘big toll’ on him and that the handling of the case was a ‘very strong deterrent to whistle-blowers in Ireland’.
“I would like to hear their views, if they were open to it, on how they think the current protected disclosures regime is functioning?
“Let’s not forget that the current protected disclosures regime was updated in 2022 on foot of an EU Directive.
“The Finance Committee undertook serious pre-legislative scrutiny of this. We heard from a large number of former whistle-blowers who gave their stories and highlighted their concerns with the proposed new legislation.
“There were a large body of recommendations made, many of which were ignored.
“At the time I introduced my own bill as I was concerned that the government were deliberately opting for a weaker regime than the one set out in the EU Directive.
“When I introduced my bill, it was delayed, and the government said they would revisit it – the time has now come to revisit the protected disclosures regime.
“I am now going to see if it is possible to have my bill restored and allowed to proceed to committee stage, where we will have an opportunity to ensure that proper protections for whistle-blowers are put in place.
“The greatest wrongdoings revealed in Irish public bodies have not come from the likes of SIPO or the Ombudsman. In general, they come from concerned staff members who take a brave stand, often facing serious reprisals.”
