THE TÁNAISTE WILL not be prosecuted over the leaking of a GP contract in 2019, gardaí confirmed this evening.
Leo Varadkar previously told the Dáil he sent a copy of an agreement between the government and the Irish Medical Organisation to a rival GP group.
A file regarding the leak had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, which has now directed not to prosecute.
A Garda statement has said that “no prosecution” will be issued.
“Following a Garda investigation, a comprehensive investigation file was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions,” the statement said.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed no prosecution against any individual in this investigation.”
The statement said no further comment is available.
In a statement this evening Varadkar said that he is “pleased at the outcome” of the Garda investigation.
“I was informed this evening by my solicitor that the DPP has determined that I have no case to answer in relation to my disclosure of a document to the president of the NAGP in 2019,” the Tánaiste said.
I have always maintained that the allegations made against me were false. I am pleased at the outcome of what was a very thorough investigation.
“I want to thank the Taoiseach, Minister Ryan, my Fine Gael party colleagues, my Party, my staff, my partner and my family for their faith, trust and confidence in me during what was a difficult period for us all. I will issue a full statement in due course,” Vararkar concluded.
In November 2020, the Tánaiste survived a confidence motion in the Dáil over the matter but it remained a political issue.
The matter was upgraded to a criminal investigation in March 2021.
Varadkar sent the leaked contract to GP Maitiú Ó Tuathail of the National Association of General Practitioners whom he later described as a friend but “not a close friend”.
The Tánaiste had previously described the allegations over the contract leak as “false” and “politically motivated”.
Additional reporting by Jane Moore.
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