Risk of corruption laid out in ‘Speak Up’ whistleblowing report

A new report on whistleblowing in Ireland has found the risk of corruption and other forms of wrongdoing to be "relatively high" in the health service and local government.

However, Transparency International Ireland, publishing its Speak Up report, warned against any inference that these sectors were more corrupt than others.

The organisation said about 50 per cent of those who made contact with them reported that they had either been dismissed or lost out on opportunities such as promotion as a result of making their concerns known.

The information in the report was compiled from contacts by more than 500 people to the group’s free helpline for whistleblowers, victims and witnesses of wrongdoing which has been in operation since 2011. The group said its clients had included Garda Sgt Maurice McCabe and former garda John Wilson.

Some 12 per cent of calls concerned local government, followed by the health service (10 per cent), social services including charities (9 per cent) and policing (8 per cent).

A high level of retaliation against whistleblowing in the health service has also caused alarm and was the subject of 20 per cent of calls received about the sector.

The group said there were a relatively large number of complaints about medical malpractice and allegations of cover-ups in the health service

Legal services, education, Civil Service and public administration also feature as areas of concern.

The group said the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 – legislation designed to protect whistleblowers – has been a welcome development but requires strengthening measures, particularly expanding the field of those who can receive complaints.

Chief executive John Devitt said it was not the policy of the organisation to assess the validity of complaints received, more to record them and steer concerned parties in the right direction, firstly their employer and then, possibly, the Garda.

“We’re highlighting the kind of risks that policymakers and senior executives need to be aware of and the measures we think will help address corruption, fraud and other forms of wrongdoing. No organisation or professional sector is immune from malpractice,” he said.

The group has made a number of recommendations, including the development of intelligence-sharing among law enforcement agencies to combat white collar crime.