New laws taking effect today offer up to five years' pay for whistleblowers who are unfairly dismissed from their job.

The legislation offers coverage to all employees, contractors, agency workers, gardaí and Defence Forces personnel who want to make disclosures about their employer.

There is also scope for the protection of any disclosure made before the laws take effect.

The bill removes any good faith or public interest test - which could otherwise act as a deterrent to would-be whistleblowers.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin says the Bill sets a new standard of international best practice for protecting whistleblowers.

Under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, whistleblowers will be entitled to strong protections against their identity being revealed.

They will have access to the industrial relations machinery of the State for securing redress against penalisation.