Irish Rail worker who is paid £105,000 a year to 'read the paper' takes ... trends now
A finance manager at Irish Rail in Dublin says his duties were dramatically reduced after he made a protected disclosure nine years ago and that he now spends most of his time at his £105,000-a-year job reading newspapers, taking long walks and eating sandwiches.
Dermot Alastair Mills was giving evidence in a hearing yesterday into his complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014.
He alleges that he was penalised as a whistleblower after discussing concerns about some accounting matters at the railway operator in 2014.
'I'd say if I got something that requires me to do work once in a week I'd be thrilled,' Mr Mills told the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
Pictured: Intercity train in Ireland (file photo). Irish Rail does not contest that Dermot Alastair Mills made a protected disclosure but argues that it did not penalise him. Mr Mills was giving evidence in a hearing yesterday into his complaint under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014
Irish Rail does not contest that Mr Mills made a protected disclosure but argues that it did not penalise him.
It said the WRC only has jurisdiction to rule on the extent of any alleged penalisation as it relates to the failure of Mr Mills to gain a more senior post during a 2018 recruitment process.
Mr Mills's representative, former Irish Rail HR chief and industrial relations consultant John Keenan, said his client was still being penalised in his continuing employment because of the alleged reduction of his duties.
Mr Mills gave evidence that he was handed responsibility for capital budgets worth around £216,000 from the turn of the millennium up to the economic collapse in 2006 and 2007.
He added that he reported to the Irish Rail board, took part in board sub-committees, and was promoted in 2010.
However, he said after that he had been 'bullied', causing him to take three months' sick leave in 2013.
He said he only returned to the role that year after agreeing with the company that he would have the 'same status, same seniority [and] same salary'.
Modern train at Sallins railway station in County Kildare, Ireland (file photo)
Mr Mills said he was paid the same salary and was told he would have responsibility as a finance manager accounting for the company's debt account, fixed assets worth billions, and preparing a report for the government.
He said this left him 'in practice' solely managing a debt portfolio worth £6.9m when he started, which has now been reduced to £35,000.
'There were certain issues with debtors and I saw certain things. I tried to raise red flags all over the place,' Mr Mills said.
He said he had written to the Irish Rail chief executive to make a 'good faith' report in March 2014, before making a protected disclosure to the Transport Minister in December that year, after the
