“An Alternative to Silence” – Protecting whistleblowers in Ireland

Re-scheduled from 11 to 19 January.

Speakers include Eugene McErlean, former internal auditor at AIB, Bernadette Sullivan, former nurse at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Tom Clonan, former officer in the Irish Army and now Irish Times defence correspondent; and John Devitt, Chief Executive of TI Ireland. A panel of renowned whistleblowers will discuss the importance of speaking out in the public interest, and what steps they think need to be taken to promote good faith reporting in Ireland. The meeting will be moderated by RTÉ’s business correspondent Emma McNamara.

Silence has cost thousands of people their lives and livelihoods in Ireland. From the sexual and physical assault of children in the care of the State or the Church, to the gross abuse of financial power by bank executives; the one thing such cases had in common was the suppression of the truth. Those who knew often stayed silent. The victims of abuse and those who spoke out both suffered the consequences.

Transparency International Ireland will launch a new report on safeguards for whistleblowers in Ireland together with international best practice principles for whistleblower legislation at the event.