An Garda Síochána has defended its treatment of protected disclosures following an RTÉ Investigates programme examining the experiences of Garda whistleblowers.
In a lengthy statement issued in response to the broadcast, the force said it regarded protected disclosures as being of the “utmost importance” and was committed to ensuring the integrity of the system used to report and investigate alleged wrongdoing.
However, it criticised RTÉ over the time it was given to answer approximately 90 “lengthy and highly detailed questions” covering a wide range of matters, some dating back several years.
Gardaí said RTÉ Investigates provided just one week to respond to questions for a programme it had “undoubtedly” been working on for a long time.
It added: “It is noted that RTÉ started advertising the programme with excerpts before receiving any response from An Garda Síochána.”
The force said many of the questions were based on protected disclosures which it was legally precluded from discussing.
It also said it could not comment on cases before the Workplace Relations Commission, the civil or criminal courts, or matters which may be under investigation by Fiosrú, the Policing Ombudsman.
“It is important that the rights of those making, and those considering making, protected disclosures are protected,” the statement said.
“It is equally important that those persons who are the subject of allegations are entitled to fair procedures and due process in respect of investigations conducted.”
The statement highlighted Commissioner Drew Harris’s apology to former Sergeant Maurice McCabe following the publication of the first Disclosures Tribunal report.
It also pointed to the establishment of the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit, which it said was created to identify Garda personnel engaged in wrongdoing and take enforcement action against them.
“A number of Gardaí are suspended, have been prosecuted or are before the courts as a result of investigations by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit,” it said.
Gardaí said employees were encouraged to disclose wrongdoing and could report concerns internally or through a dedicated channel independently operated by Transparency International Ireland.
“We encourage and support employees in disclosing wrongdoing and have implemented mechanisms to ensure that workers can raise concerns with the confidence that they will be listened to and that their concerns will be appropriately addressed,” the statement said.
The force rejected any suggestion that its Protected Disclosures Unit had been closed when it was transferred to the Governance and Accountability Section in January 2025.
“For the record, there was no closure of the PDU,” it said.
A full-time protected disclosures manager has since been appointed at Assistant Principal level, while the highest Garda rank within the unit has increased from sergeant to inspector.
Transparency International Ireland has also trained 166 senior Garda managers over the past year, with a further 166 due to receive training before the end of 2026.