A whistleblower has accused Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and former Taoiseach Enda Kenny of “political interference” to frustrate criminal investigations into farmers and pharmacists by the Department of Agriculture.
Former minister Richard Bruton, TDs from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the State’s chief veterinary officer, and a former president of the IFA have also been accused at a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearing this morning of lobbying to have investigations stopped.
Louis Reardon, a veterinary inspector with over 20 years’ service at the Department of Agriculture, has complained to the WRC that he was transferred out of a “prestigious” job with its special investigations unit because he made a protected disclosure accusing senior officials and politicians of “interfering” to block investigations.
The Department of Agriculture denies retaliating against the whistleblower in breach of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014.
At the outset, its legal team sought to have the details of the protected disclosure excluded from the evidence given at a public hearing this morning, arguing the documents had been submitted late and were not relevant to the claim.
Sarah-Jane Hillery BL, for the department, said the adjudicating officer “has no role in investigating the protected disclosure” and that she had “a very strong objection to having the documents heard”.
The adjudicating officer, Tom O’Driscoll, said he had jurisdiction to investigate the seriousness of...
MANILA, Philippines — Individuals who started and deliberately spread rumors that the government will place the country in an energy lockdown should face consequences as such actions threaten nati...