Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Finance to detail (i) any safeguards his Department has in place to protect whistleblowers; and (ii) who implements and oversees those safeguards.
Minister of Finance: Section 4 and Annex 3 to the Civil Service Standards of Conduct policy, underpinned by the Public Interest Disclosure (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, and the Civil Service Raising a Concern Policy Framework, sets out the statutory and contractual protections to ensure that civil servants can raise concerns confidentially, safely and without fear of detriment or victimisation.
Key safeguards included within the Standards of Conduct policy and Raising a Concern Policy Framework include a presumption that concerns are raised in good faith; provisions for confidentiality and, where requested, anonymity; access to multiple protected disclosure routes; assurance of support and nonretaliation; and arrangements to ensure concerns are handled transparently and that appropriate feedback is provided, subject to confidentiality constraints.
Responsibility for implementing and overseeing safeguards for civil servants’ rests with the NICSHR Employee Relations Director, who acts as the servicewide Nominated Officer for whistleblowing matters. At departmental level, the Designated Officer is responsible for ensuring concerns are managed appropriately and in line with policy.
ENDS
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