Transparency International Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Transparency International Ireland

Date published 18 Jan, 2019

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Sep, 2018 to 31 Dec, 2018

Specific Details EU Whistleblowing Directive

Intended results To encourage Irish members of the European People's Party Group to amend proposals that will weaken safeguards for whistleblowers in Ireland.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity John Devitt

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

Irish EPP group were asked to draw their colleagues’ attention to the following: • A “Good Faith” motivation test to be included in compromise Article 2. This would significantly weaken whistleblower protections under s.5.7 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. • “Malicious or abusive” reporting inclusion is close to being reinserted in Article 17, would also undermine protections in Ireland. Currently there is no provision in Irish law penalising workers making ‘malicious’ reports on the understanding that it would have a chilling effect on prospective whistleblowers. • Anonymous reporting will only be mentioned in the recitals, and we feel it must be explicitly mentioned. • The role civil society could play in offering independent support to whistleblowers, which is under consideration of being removed. Removal of a provision in the Directive that allows civil society organisations such as TI to provide support to whistleblowers would deny them access to independent advice

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Brian Hayes MEP (European Parliament)

SeÃ¡n Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Mairead McGuinness MEP (European Parliament)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)