The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024
Introduction
The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 (the “Order”) is a new piece of legislation that has been introduced in Northern Ireland. The Order amends the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order (Northern Ireland) 2017 (the “Principal Order”) by adding a new category of prescribed persons to whom whistleblowers can make protected disclosures.
Who are Prescribed Persons?
Prescribed persons are individuals or organizations who are designated by the government as being responsible for receiving and investigating whistleblowing disclosures. They provide a safe and confidential channel for whistleblowers to report wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing.
The New Category of Prescribed Persons
The Order adds a new category of prescribed persons to the Principal Order:
- The Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland
This means that whistleblowers can now make protected disclosures to the Commissioner for Public Appointments about matters relating to the recruitment, appointment, and conduct of public officials in Northern Ireland.
Why is this Important?
The addition of the Commissioner for Public Appointments as a prescribed person is a significant development for whistleblowing in Northern Ireland. It provides whistleblowers with a new channel to report wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing within the public sector.
The Commissioner for Public Appointments is an independent body that is responsible for ensuring that the recruitment and appointment of public officials in Northern Ireland is fair, open, and transparent. The Commissioner also has a role in monitoring the conduct of public officials.
By adding the Commissioner for Public Appointments as a prescribed person, the Order strengthens the whistleblowing framework in Northern Ireland and provides whistleblowers with a greater level of protection.
Protected Disclosures
A protected disclosure is a disclosure of information that a whistleblower reasonably believes is in the public interest. Protected disclosures can be made about a wide range of wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing, including:
- Fraud
- Corruption
- Abuse of power
- Health and safety risks
- Environmental damage
How to Make a Protected Disclosure
Whistleblowers can make a protected disclosure to a prescribed person in writing, orally, or electronically. The disclosure must be made in good faith and the whistleblower must reasonably believe that the information is in the public interest.
Protection for Whistleblowers
The Order provides protection for whistleblowers who make protected disclosures. Whistleblowers are protected from being dismissed, penalized, or otherwise discriminated against because they have made a disclosure.
Conclusion
The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 is a welcome development for whistleblowing in Northern Ireland. The addition of the Commissioner for Public Appointments as a prescribed person provides whistleblowers with a new channel to report wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing within the public sector. This strengthens the whistleblowing framework in Northern Ireland and provides whistleblowers with a greater level of protection.
The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024
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