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Tánaiste has offered to meet Gardaí over the leaking of a confidential GP contract

Monday, 15 February 2021 06:47

Gardaí have confirmed a preliminary inquiry is underway into the matter.

Last year Village Magazine published WhatsApp messages detailing contacts between Leo Varadkar and the President of the National Association of General Practitioners - Maitiu O Tuathail.

The new doctors' union, now defunct, was not included in talks on the new public contract in 2019. 

But shortly after the deal was agreed with the Irish Medical Organisation, the Tánaiste sent Dr O Tuathail a copy. 

A text from Dr O Tuathail to his NAGP colleagues at the time read: "Leo always delivers". 

The Tánaiste admitted the leak was an "error" and apologised in the Dáil last November. 

It's since emerged that a complaint was made to Gardaí about the matter, with newspaper reports at the weekend suggesting former Health Minister Simon Harris was interviewed by detectives in January. 

Sinn Féin's Finance spokesman Pearse Doherty says the Tánaiste should make his phone available for examination. 

In a statement issued yesterday, Leo Varadkar says "the facts are no different to those set out by me in the Dáil last November."

He says his solicitors have written to Garda Headquarters offering to meet and answer questions. 

He adds: "My legal advice is that I have committed no offence," and that he won't comment any further.  

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