๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ค๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐-๐จ๐-๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐s ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐
Deputy Mattie McGrath raised serious concerns in the Dรกil on Tuesday 15 July regarding the handling of protected disclosures in Irelandโs health system.
He criticised the absence of the Minister for Health in the Dรกil Chamber to respond to the plight of whistleblowers who, despite presenting peer-reviewed evidence and FOI documents, are ignored, discredited, and left vulnerable.
Deputy McGrath referred specifically to a whistleblower who alleged regulatory failures, including misuse of end-of-life protocols in nursing homes during Covid and the failure of agencies like the HPRA and PSI to act on vaccine safety concerns.
He called for an immediate independent inquiry, demanding that the Department of Health, HPRA, and PSI respond transparently and that whistleblower protections be enforced.
In response, Minister of State Kieran OโDonnell, speaking on behalf of Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, gave a procedural reply.
He outlined the existing protected disclosures framework and the Departmentโs encouragement of staff to report wrongdoing without fear of penalisation.
Minister OโDonnell assured that reports forwarded to the Protected Disclosures Commissioner are handled confidentially and fairly, but he did not address Deputy McGrathโs specific allegations or commit to an independent inquiry.
In his rebuttal, Deputy McGrath reiterated the urgency and gravity of the whistleblowerโs claims, including possible loss of thousands of lives, regulatory inaction, and systemic cover-ups. He again pressed for a public inquiry and immediate ministerial action.
In closing, Minister OโDonnell reiterated the Departmentโs general commitment to the protected disclosures process but made no new commitments beyond referring the matter back to the Minister for Health.
Credit to : M-Compass Media