215. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether his Department's internal protected disclosures policy and procedures are published on its website; if not, the reason; whether the statutory guidance encourages public bodies to publish their internal procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75267/26]

For the purpose of clarity, I will refer directly to the legislation in answering the Deputy's question.

Section 6(3) of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (as amended) requires employers with 50 or more employees to establish, maintain and operate internal reporting channels and procedures for the making of reports and for follow-up.

Section 6A(1)(g), with regard to those internal reporting channels, requires the provision to workers of clear and easily accessible information, in such form and manner as the employer considers appropriate.

Section 7(2A) of the Act requires prescribed persons and the Protected Disclosures Commissioner to establish, maintain and operate independent and autonomous external reporting channels and procedures for receiving and handling reports made to them.

Section 7A(10), with regard to those external reporting channels, requires prescribed persons to publish on a website maintained by or on their behalf, in a separate, easily identifiable and accessible section, a range of procedural information.

In line with both the legislation and the Statutory Guidance on same, I can confirm that the relevant procedural information in respect of internal protected disclosures is made accessible on my Department's intranet and procedural information in respect of external reports is published on my Department’s website.

I trust this answers the Deputy's question.