The Taoiseach has said it was inappropriate for Leo Varadkar to share a confidential agreement made with one group of doctors with the head of another.

The Tánaiste has admitted sending a copy of a deal agreed with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to the then-president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP), Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail.

Minister Varadkar admitted that sharing the document with Dr Ó Tuathail was “not best practice” but insisted most of the information was already in the public domain and was “not something that was confidential or sensitive.”

He said he had nothing unlawful and insisted he only sent on the information in a bid to get the agreement accepted by as many GPs as possible.

The Tánaiste Leo Varadkar at Government Buildings in Dublin, 14-10-2020. Image: Julien Behal

Speaking this afternoon, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said his predecessor’s actions were “inappropriate” but insisted no laws had been broken.

“Look, the Tánaiste himself has acknowledged that this was not best practice and he regrets the manner in which the document was forwarded to the president of the NAGP,” he said.

“I also believe it was an inappropriate way to deal with a document of this kind. I don’t believe that any law was broken in relation to this.”

General Practitioner Contract

He said it was appropriate for Minister Varadkar to answer questions on his actions in the Dáil tomorrow.

“There was no financial gain for anyone in terms of sending this document to the head of the NAGP,” he said.

“That has to be said – there was no material advantage to any person.

“But it wasn’t best practice; it was not appropriate to do it in that way.

“To be fair the Tánaiste, the then-taoiseach has agreed to go into the Dáil tomorrow and answer comprehensively any issues around this, to make a statement on it and answer any questions.”

Lessons

He said he believes there are lessons to be learned in hindsight and noted that he believed large-scale agreements, such as the one with the IMO, should be published as early as possible.

He said he did not expect the controversy to undermine the cooperation between the three Government parties.

“Since we formed this Government, I think we have clear mechanisms that are in place to deal with issues that come before Cabinet and also any issues that may arise between the three parties in terms of the Programme for Government,” he said.

“In terms of the forthcoming pay deal, that will be, in the first instance, something that the Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath will deal with and lead for the Government on.”

Coalition

He said the three party leaders would then make a decision with Minister McGrath and the Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.

Earlier Dr Ó Tuathail said that "all GPs had a right" to access information on a programme for chronic disease management, which is at the centre of the controversy.

Meanwhile Sinn Féin's Louise O’Reilly told Newstalk Breakfast that Minister Varadkar must answer questions over the sharing of a confidential document with one of his 'mates'.