statement issued ‘My legal advice is that I’ve committed no offence’ – Varadkar offers to meet gardai over leak probe

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said he has been advised that he "committed no offence" in leaking a €210m GP contract but said he has offered to meet with gardaí investigating the leak.

In a statement, Mr Varadkar said he has been aware since November that a complaint was made to Gardaí about his decision to give the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) document to Dr Maitiu O Tuathail.

"The gardai have to do their job and investigate that complaint. I would expect nothing else."

"They have not been in contact with me about the matter, but I have, through my solicitors, made contact with them and I have offered to meet with them, answer any questions they may have, and provide a full statement on the matter," he said.

Mr Varadkar said the facts relating to the case are "no different" to those set out by him in the Dail last November.

"My legal advice is that I have committed no offence. I look forward to the matter being concluded," he said.

"Given the circumstances, I won’t be making any further comment.”

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has given a statement to gardaí investigating Tánaiste Leo Varadkar’s admission that he leaked a €210m GP contract.

Mr Harris provided gardaí with a signed written statement on his knowledge of the events leading up to Mr Varadkar’s decision to send a copy of the contract to the former National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) Dr Maitiu O Tuathail.

Mr Harris, who was health minister at the time of the leak, is not under investigation and provided the statement to gardaí voluntarily.

He was not involved in leaking the contract and was unaware that Mr Varadkar sent the document to Dr O Tuathail in April 2019.

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Online Editors