Ever tried to wade through the Protected Disclosures Act and get your head round the various sections, sub-sections and what nots?

Ever wanted a Plain English version of the Act?

We are trying . . .

Here’s what Whistleblowersireland.com came up with so far but we could do with some help . . .

‘A protected disclosure is a wrongdoing of a relevant wrongdoing if a worker discloses it to their employer/other responsible person OR one of 72 types of so-called ‘prescribed’ persons OR a minister OR a lawyer, OR somebody else like a journalist.’

BUT – it seems – you can only make a protected disclosure to ‘somebody else like a journalist’ if the worker reasonably believes the information they want to disclose is substantially true, not made for personal gain and they reasonably believe they will be subjected to penalisation by their employer if they make a disclosure (to somebody else) and the worker reasonably believes that it is likely that evidence relating to the relevant wrongdoing will be concealed or destroyed and it is reasonable for the worker to make the disclosure.

And a relevant wrongdoing – under the terms of the Act – is an offence that has been, is being or is likely to be committed OR the relevant wrongdoing is a miscarriage of justice that has occurred, is occurring or the relevant wrongdoing is likely to occur OR the relevant wrongdoing means the health or safety of any individual has been, is being or is likely to be endangered.

A relevant wrongdoing is also one where the environment has been, is being or is likely to be damaged OR is where an unlawful or otherwise improper use of funds or resources of a public body, or of other public money, has occurred, is occurring or is likely to occur OR is an act or omission by or on behalf of a public body that is oppressive, discriminatory or grossly negligent or constitutes gross mismanagement.

In addition, a relevant wrongdoing is where information tending to show any of the above wrongdoings has been, is being or is likely to be concealed or destroyed.

Furthermore, it is immaterial whether a relevant wrongdoing occurred, occurs or would occur in the State or elsewhere and whether the law applying to it is that of the State or that of any other country or territory.

Are you a fan of a) whistleblowing and b) Plain English?

If so – can you help turn the Protected Disclosures Act into English most of us can understand?