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The union that received a copy of a confidential document from then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar threatened to tell its members to campaign against Fine Gael only two months earlier.
Chris Goodey, then executive director of the NAGP, wrote to TDs, including former chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party and current deputy minister, Martin Heydon, in February 2019, issuing the warning.
In the letter, Mr. Goodey said that members could be asked to put up posters in waiting rooms before last year’s local and European elections because the union was excluded from negotiating the new contract, that the Mr. Varadkar sent the president of the NAGP, Dr. Maitiú. Ó Tuathail the following April, after it had been agreed with the rival Irish Medical Organization (IMO).
“At the request of our members, the National Council of the NAGP met this weekend.
“Our members have informed us that they intend to begin campaigning individually against their local Fine Gael DTs, Senators and Councilors, unless the current situation is corrected.
Letter from NAGP to Martin Heydon saying they would start campaigning against their local TDs and senators and inform their patients how Fine Gael’s policies were hurting the general practice if they were not included in the negotiations. pic.twitter.com/JJfugmCWQO
– aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) November 2, 2020
“This activity could involve up to 2,100 GPs briefing their patients personally on the health policies of Fine Gael TDs and councilors in the upcoming local and general elections, and the detrimental effect these policies are having on healthcare services. patient in the community.
“Our members inform us that they will inform their patients about the failures in the health service and Fine Gael’s role in the demise of community services and GPs.
“This problem of proper representation of GPs will not go away unless NAGP becomes an equal part of the change process.”
Mr. Varadkar delivered the document to Dr. Ó Tuathail between April 11 and 16, a measure that Tánaiste now accepts “was not the best practice.”
Mr Varadkar will address the Dáil on the matter on Tuesday, but has received endorsement from Taoiseach Mícheál Martin, who on Monday said he has confidence in the Fine Gael leader.
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