Think Like a Director | Directors Gather for Whistleblowing Event

(Pictured L to R: Caroline Kinsella, Board and Member Services Director, IoD Ireland, Ailish Finnerty, Chair at Arthur Cox, Louise O' Byrne, Partner in the Employment Law Group at Arthur Cox LLP, Séamus Given CDir, Partner at Arthur Cox LLP. Photography by Stuart McNamara).

The event was opened with a warm welcome from IoD Ireland's Board and Member Services Director Caroline Kinsella, who noted the aim of the event was to provide thought leadership and a key networking opportunity. Caroline highlighted the dual purpose of the evening: to offer thought leadership and to foster valuable networking among members. She emphasized that every initiative at IoD Ireland is designed to deliver value to members and to cultivate a vibrant, supportive Chartered Director (CDir) community that promotes both personal and professional development.

Ailish Finnerty, Chair at Arthur Cox, also addressed attendees, underscoring the importance of the IoD Ireland network. She noted that the evening aimed to deepen understanding of how recent legislative changes impact governance, accountability, and risk management—particularly for those serving on Audit and Risk Committees.The event addressed the key area of Whistlelowing. Whistleblowers are protected by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, which commenced on 1 January 2023. The whistleblowing provisions protect any 'worker' who makes a 'protected disclosure' of information, from being dismissed or penalised by their employer because of the disclosure. Under this legislation directors and senior business leaders may be liable.

Louise O’Byrne, Partner in the Employment Law Group at Arthur Cox LLP, provided a detailed overview of the Act, covering key definitions, confidentiality obligations, and protections against penalisation. Following this, Séamus Given CDir, Partner at Arthur Cox LLP, outlined the specific responsibilities of directors under the Act. He also referenced relevant guidance from the Irish Corporate Governance Code and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. Notably, Séamus shared 12 practical steps boards should take to effectively manage whistleblowing within their organisations.

The event, which took place at Arthur Cox offices, reinforced the value of the Chartered Director Network in providing timely, high-level guidance on issues that matter most to boardroom leaders.

Event Highlights Video

Watch some highlights of the event below.