The Central Bank of Ireland says it received 150 protected disclosures from July 2018 to the end of June this year.

This is the highest number recorded and marks a big increase from the previous 12 months, when just 113 protected disclosures were made.

While back in 2014/2015, just one protected disclosure was made.

The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 requires public bodies to prepare and publish a report each year on the number of protected disclosures made to them.

They also have to detail any action taken in response to the disclosures.

The Central Bank says the matters reported were assessed and where required, appropriate action was taken.

However details of the issues in the protected disclosures are not available.

Workers can submit anonymous disclosures to the Central Bank.

But where anonymous reports are made by those other than 'workers', this is not a 'protected disclosure'.

The Central Bank has a legal obligation to protect the identity of the reporting person who makes a disclosure, and not to disclose any information that might identify that person.

However it may disclose the identity of the reporting person if they give their consent.