ByrneWallace LLP hosts webinar on the New Whistleblowing Law in Ireland

ByrneWallace LLP Employment Law Team are hosting a two day training programme, in association with Legal Island, on the New Whistleblowing Laws in Ireland on Wednesday, 22 June and Thursday, 23 June 2022 from 9.15 – 12.30pm (IST).

The Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2021, which was published on 9 February 2022, will extend the scope of the protections for whistle blowers in Ireland and introduce a range of amendments which will have a significant impact on employers. 

These changes include: 

• New obligations on all private-sector organisations with 50 or more employees to establish formal channels and procedures for their employees to make protected disclosures;

• Increased range of remedies available to people who allege that they have been penalised for making a protected disclosure;

• Reversal in the burden of proof in claims for penalisation for making a protected disclosure before the Workplace Relations Commission;

• Employees may be awarded up to 5 years’ remuneration as compensation for penalisation, and non-employees who have been penalised will be eligible to be awarded up to €15,000; and

• Creation of a number of new criminal offences, including:

• penalisation or threatening penalisation against a discloser;

• failing to establish internal reporting channels for protected disclosures;

• knowingly making a false disclosure; and

• breaching the confidentiality provisions around the identity of a discloser.
  

All employers need to be briefed fully on the amendments to avoid expensive claims and potential reputational damage.

During this two day training programme, we will address the following: 

Day One (22 June):

• Understanding Statutory Requirements (Part 1): About the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 and the New Requirements.

• Understanding Statutory Requirements (Part 2): Creating a Supportive Culture for Whistleblowers – What this means for employers and their procedures.

• Understanding Statutory Requirements (Part 3): The Whistleblower is Always Right (Unless They’re Wrong) - reversal of the burden of proof in cases concerning penalisation.

Day Two (23 June) focusses on reinforcing the learning from day one via application of practical scenarios and checklists for the audience to analyse and discuss:

• Practical Examples (1): Defining a Protected Disclosure – which of these scenarios requires a statutory response? How to tell, what to do and how to protect your organisation.

• Practical Examples (2): Reporting Channel and Procedures – Recording disclosures and setting up investigations, providing feedback.

• Practical Examples (3): Round-Up, Top Tips, Standard Procedures and What to Do Next.

Speakers will include ByrneWallace LLP Employment Law Partner Emmet Whelan.  

Emmet will also be joined by Barrister Dr Lauren Kierans BL and Liam Ennis, Founder and Director of The Debrief Group. 

For more information on the programme, please contact events@byrnewallace.com