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Tánaiste Leo Varadkar will make a statement to Dáil this afternoon and answer questions from TDs about how and why he disclosed a confidential document to a third party last year.
Foreign Minister Simon Coveney defended Varadkar on RTÉ’s Claire Byrne Live last night, saying that his action “was not the same as leaking a confidential document to try to undermine someone or to gain an advantage in some way.”
However, opposition parties have harshly criticized Varadkar, and Sinn Féin called his leak an abuse of the Taoiseach’s office.
The Tánaiste is due to give a 20-minute statement in the Dáil chamber at 4.30pm on how and why it handed over a contract negotiated between the Government and the Irish Medical Organization to a rival GP group in April last year.
Opposition parties intensify criticism of Varadkar for the leak
Varadkar denies having acted illegally by sharing contract
In addition to Mr. Coveney, a succession of Ministers from Fine Gael have defended Mr. Varadkar by stating that much of the information in the document was in the public domain and that its sole intention was to ensure that more GPs signed an improved contract long ago.
Green Party Deputy Leader Catherine Martin said yesterday that it was crucial that Varadkar not only make a full and frank statement, but provide clear answers to TDs when asked questions.
Sinn Féin had demanded that Taoiseach Micheál Martin provide immediate access to all communications between the Government and the National Association of General Practitioners, the organization that received the confidential document, however, RTÉ News understands that this is unlikely to happen.
Speaking in government buildings yesterday, Mr. Martin said that he did not believe that Mr. Varadkar had “broken any laws” and that he still had his confidence.
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