Protected disclosures

Page updated 14 March 2024

Protected Disclosures Policy

The purpose of this Policy is to encourage a 'Relevant Person' within the University to make a disclosure of any potential wrongdoing of which they become aware and for the University to provide protection for the person making the disclosure. This policy provides guidelines as to how and to whom a Protected Disclosure should be made.

Read the (opens in a new window)Policy in full in the Governance Library

The 'Disclosure Group'

Any person raising a concern must exercise discretion and commit to keeping the reporting and investigation process confidential.

All disclosures by a Relevant Person should be made in writing to a member of the Disclosure Group, known as an  'Impartial Person' listed below.

• Mr (opens in a new window)Cameron Murrell, Director of Governance and Secretariat
• Ms (opens in a new window)Lorna Dodd, Deputy Librarian
• Ms (opens in a new window)Grainne Keane, Finance Director

Disclosures may also be made in writing to (opens in a new window)protected.disclosures@ucd.ie.

The 'Relevant Person' (as defined in the Policy) making the disclosure will need to be able to demonstrate and support the reasons for their concerns and provide evidence of their concerns where such evidence is available.

Protected Disclosures Reports

The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment Act) 2022) requires public bodies to , not later than 31 March of  each year to publish  a report in respect of the preceding calendar year confirming that the public body has in place

(i) internal reporting channels and procedures

(ii) there are external reporting channels and procedures and

(iii) the number of protected disclosures made to the relevant public body in the preceding year and the action taken in response to the protected disclosure. 

The University confirms that it has internal reporting channels and procedures in place and which are referenced in the Protected Disclosures Policy and which can be accessed in the link on this page. The University further confirms that the Policy also makes reference to the external reporting channels and procedures.

1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024
The University received eight protected disclosures for the period 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024. One of the disclosures is being investigated.

1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023

The University received one protected disclosure (after 30 June 2023) and which is being investigated.

1 July 2022 -30 June 2023

The University has not received any  protected disclosures for the period 1 July 2022 – 29 June 2023.

1 July 2021 – 30 June 2022

The University has not received any  protected disclosures for the period 1 July 2021 – 30 June 2022.

1 July 2020 - 30 June 2021

The University has received one protected disclosure for the year 1 July 2020 – 30 June 2021 and which is being investigated.

1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020

The University has not received any  protected disclosures for the period 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020.

1 July 2018 – 30 June 2019

The University received one protected disclosure for the period which was investigated and no further action was required to be taken.

1 July 2017 – 30 June 2018

The University has not received any protected disclosures for the period 1 July 2017 –30 June 2018. 

1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017

The University received one protected disclosure for this period which was investigated and no further action was required to be taken.