The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 came into effect on 15 July 2014.
This Act provides a framework within which workers can raise concerns regarding potential wrongdoing that has come to their attention in the workplace in the knowledge that they can avail of significant and other protections if they are penalised by their employer or suffer any detriment for doing so.
Kildare County Council has put in place a policy and procedure, which in tandem with the legislation, will encourage workers to report potential wrongdoing in the knowledge that their concerns will be taken seriously and investigated, where appropriate, and that their confidentiality will be respected.
The policy highlights that it is always appropriate to raise concerns when they are based on a reasonable belief, irrespective of whether any wrongdoing is in fact subsequently identified. The policy also provides workers with guidance on how to raise concerns
This policy applies to all Kildare County Council workers including contractors, consultants, agency staff, former employees and interns/trainees.
In accordance with the provisions of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the council has appointed Ms Christine O'Grady, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Services to receive protected disclosures. The designated officer can be contacted by telephone at 045-980721, by e-mail at cogrady@kildarecoco.ie or by post at Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co Kildare.