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Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald and Garda Commissioner Noirin O Sullivan Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
Protected Disclosures

Tánaiste seeks legal advice on Garda whistleblowers report

A former High Court judge was tasked with reviewing the situation after two protected disclosures were made to Frances Fitzgerald by gardaí in October.

TÁNAISTE AND JUSTICE Minister Frances Fitzgerald has referred a report on the treatment of whistleblowers in An Garda Síochána to the Attorney General.

In a statement, Fitzgerald said she received Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill’s report today.

The former High Court judge was tasked with reviewing the situation after two protected disclosures were made to Fitzgerald by gardaí in early October.

Fitzgerald’s statement noted Justice O’Neill was “asked to review the allegations of wrongdoing contained in the disclosures, to make any inquiries with persons or bodies that he considered appropriate in relation to the review and to report to the Tánaiste on the conclusion of the review, including any recommendations which he may consider necessary in relation to any further action which may be appropriate and warranted to address the allegations”.

The Tánaiste added:

In view of the nature of those allegations and the fact that third parties are mentioned the report is being referred to the Attorney General for her advice on how to proceed, including the question of what material might properly be put in the public domain, having regard to the rights of all concerned.

Fitzgerald thanked O’Neill for “carrying out this work so expeditiously”.

The Department of Justice said Fitzgerald will bring proposals on the issue to government once she has received the AG’s advice, but “is not in a position to make any further comment at this time”.

Read: High Court judge to investigate allegations of wrongdoing related to whistleblower disclosures

Read: Explainer: What exactly does Ireland do to protect whistleblowers?

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