Annual Report to be provided to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform pursuant to Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022
Protected Disclosures Annual Report 2022 – Home Building Finance Ireland (“HBFI”)
Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended, requires the submission of certain information to the Minister and the publication of a report each year.
HBFI operates a Protected Disclosures Policy (“Policy”), which is reviewed and approved annually by the HBFI Audit and Risk Committee, most recently in October 2022. The Policy is published on the HBFI website.
The Policy and related procedures, promote principles of good corporate governance by providing a mechanism for the reporting and addressing of concerns about possible relevant wrongdoing within the meaning of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, as amended. HBFI confirms that its Policy applies to all HBFI “workers” and makes provision for disclosure of relevant information either through internal reporting channels and procedures (through a line manager or the NTMA’s Head of Compliance) or external reporting channels and procedures (by means of a “Nominated Person” (as set out in the Policy)).
The NTMA Head of Compliance and the Nominated Person (where so advised) are then required to report to the Chairperson of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is responsible for (i) the ownership of the Policy, insofar as it relates to the functions of HBFI, (ii) oversight of its implementation with regard to these functions and (iii) oversight of investigations to include liaison with the NTMA Head of Compliance to ensure any reports received are properly evaluated and investigated.
HBFI further confirms it has, as required, reported the following information to the Minister:
| # | Information to be Provided | Comment |
|---|---|---|
a. | The number of reports made to HBFI: | 0 |
| b. | The number of reports transmitted to HBFI under sections 7, 10B, 10C and 10D: | 0 |
| c. | In respect of each report referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) above whether the relevant wrongdoing concerned was a breach: | N/A |
| d. | The number of investigations and proceedings opened by HBFI in relation to the relevant wrongdoings concerned as a result of the reports referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b): | 0 |
| e. | The number of investigations and proceedings opened, in the years preceding the year in respect of which this report is being made by HBFI in relation to the relevant wrongdoings concerned that remain open: | 0 |
| f. | The number of investigations and proceedings closed by HBFI in relation to the relevant wrongdoings concerned as a result of the reports referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b): | 0 |
| g. | In respect of each closed investigation or proceedings referred to in paragraph (f), the outcome of the investigation or proceedings and the decision taken by HBFI: | N/A |
| h. | Where relevant and in so far as it can be ascertained, the estimated financial damage and the amounts recovered following any investigation and proceedings referred to in paragraph (f); | N/A |
| i. | Such other information relating to the performance of the functions of HBFI as may be requested by the Minister. | N/A |