EU Whistle-blowers Directive 2019/1937
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Today, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (“GSOC”) along with the Network of European Integrity and Whistleblowing Authorities ("NEIWA") released a declaration calling for the immediate transposition into Irish law of the EU Whistle-blowers Directive 2019/1937 ("the Directive"). This declaration follows the NEIWA conference held by GSOC in Dublin last week.
The NEIWA was established in 2019 by a number of organisations across Europe tasked with receiving and investigating complaints and protected disclosures from whistle-blowers.
While legislation governing whistleblowing has been in place in Ireland since 2014 as a result of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Directive seeks to harmonise measures and set a minimum standard of protection for whistle-blowers across all EU Member States. As set out in the Directive, EU Member States (including Ireland) must take certain measures by today, 17 December 2021.
While steps are being taken in Ireland to transpose the new EU standards, it appears that the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2021 will be enacted in early 2022.
While legislation governing whistleblowing has been in place in Ireland since 2014 as a result of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Directive seeks to harmonise measures and set a minimum standard of protection for whistle-blowers across all EU Member States. As set out in the Directive, EU Member States (including Ireland) must take certain measures by today, 17 December 2021.
While steps are being taken in Ireland to transpose the new EU standards, it appears that the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2021 will be enacted in early 2022.
A copy of the declaration can be viewed here.
Written by Sinéad Taaffe and Sara O'Sullivan.