Source: workplacerelations.ie
The latest Annual Report for 2023 from Ireland’s Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) shows a notable increase in whistleblower cases since the country transposed the EU Directive on Whistleblowing through the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022. The report reveals that 239 decisions were issued in relation to claims made under the Protected Disclosures Act, reflecting a significant rise in the use of whistleblower protections in Ireland.
This increase follows the strengthened legal framework introduced by the 2022 amendments, which attempts to align Ireland’s laws with the EU Directive. The amendments expanded protections for whistleblowers, extending safeguards against retaliation and establishing clearer reporting mechanisms for both public and private sector workers.
The rise in whistleblower cases indicates that the transposition of the EU Directive is having a tangible impact on employee protections in Ireland, but further adjustments may be necessary to ensure that these protections are fully aligned with EU expectations.