Minister accused of protected disclosure 'incompetence'

Labour TD Alan Kelly has accused Minister Helen McEntee of either "incompetence or a mistake" in her handling of a protected disclosure, adding that it is something that will "haunt" her and the Government in which she served.

Speaking during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, Deputy Kelly accused Ms McEntee - when she was Minister for Justice - of having "acted without legal authority" by having "revealed Brian O'Reilly's identity, thereby depriving him of the legal protections he was entitled to and exposing the nature of his allegations".

RTÉ Investigates reported that two people who handled protected disclosures made by garda whistleblowers have themselves blown the whistle , alleging that reforms introduced to protect those who speak out have been undermined by senior management.