Whistleblowing Update - Supreme Court Rules That "personal Interest Communications" Can Constitute Protected Disclosures

With Ireland due to implement the EU Whistleblowing Directive in the coming months, the Supreme Court has recently issued a key decision regarding what constitutes a protected disclosure under the existing law, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (the PDA). The focal point in this Supreme Court appeal case was whether a communication made by an employee to his supervisors constituted a 'protected disclosure' for the purposes of the PDA. 

The disclosure in question concerned a health and safety matter, albeit one which had an individual impact on the claimant. The Court in this case had to consider whether an employee communication was a grievance or protected disclosure falling within the definition of the term 'relevant wrongdoings' under the PDA.