Protected Disclosure
A worker's report of wrongdoing that is legally protected from penalisation.
A protected disclosure, often called whistleblowing, is a report by a worker of relevant wrongdoing — such as illegality, danger to health and safety, or misuse of funds — that qualifies for legal protection against dismissal or penalisation.
In Ireland, the Protected Disclosures Acts, strengthened to implement the EU Whistleblowing Directive, require many employers to maintain internal reporting channels, acknowledge and follow up on disclosures within set timeframes, and protect the identity of the discloser. The threshold headcount for mandatory internal channels has been lowered over time.
For employers this means having a clear whistleblowing policy, trained people to receive reports, and robust confidentiality. Penalising someone for making a protected disclosure carries significant legal and reputational risk.
